not for profit fostering and staying local

“Staying local really does have an impact on a young person’s identity, so being able to stay in the same school can be hugely positive,” Em said.

Reflecting on where money should be spent, Em said:

“I would say on bettering young people’s lives and strengthening the relationships between foster carers and the young people with things like activities and support groups.”

Sophia Warner, 29, was placed in foster care for the first time at the age of two and was in permanent care by the age of eight. Although she says her early life was “chaotic”, it was during this period she found her love for art. As part of the Staying Local campaign, she has produced a painting that symbolises the impact the foster care system has had on her and her family.

Sophia said local authority foster care can help maintain sibling relationships, which she believes should be the priority.

“Staying local does have its benefits,” Sophia said. “Maintaining ties with your community, your school and familiar surroundings can help ease some of that transition, but at the heart of it, it’s about the relationships and connections that young people need to thrive, especially with their siblings.

“Keeping siblings together should always be a priority. It helps young people feel less alone, and it gives them the emotional support they need during such a difficult time.”

“Previously, we’d always cared for older children. When we started fostering through our local authority, we started caring for a younger girl – something we’d never done before. But the help we received was so refreshing.

“Our social worker was, and still is, always at the end of the phone. And, there’s a proper fostering community here. Now, we know more people who are foster carers than ever before – we’ve even got our own WhatsApp group, and we really care for each other.”

“I am delighted that the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill has been passed by the Senedd.

We want to radically transform children’s services in Wales, and this Bill will enable us to eliminate profit from the care of looked after children within both children’s homes and fostering services.

We recognise the key role that Foster Wales plays in supporting our vision, and we will continue to support local authority foster care services in Wales to become more sustainable.”

“Local authority fostering ensures public finance is retained within local government to support better outcomes and sustainable services for children. It means young people can stay within their local communities and in Wales, which is hugely important.

“We want anyone considering fostering to know that our local fostering teams go above and beyond to ensure both foster carers and young people are fully supported.

If you want to find out more about local authority fostering, please do get in touch with your local authority today.”