Only Men Aloud founder adds voice to call for more foster carers in Wales

Only Men Aloud’s founder Tim Rhys-Evans has added his voice to the call for more foster carers across Wales, by supporting this year’s Foster Care Fortnight.

Foster Care Fortnight, the Fostering Network’s annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering and the need for more foster carers, takes place from 14 to 27 May. The renowned male voice choir are supporting the campaign in the hope of encouraging many more people to consider fostering.

The Fostering Network estimates that a further 550 foster families are needed across Wales in 2012 alone. Without these extra families, too many children won’t get the right foster home first time. They end up living a long way from family, friends and school, are repeatedly moved around as fostering relationships break down, or even end up in residential care when fostering has been identified as their best option.

Tim Rhys-Evans said: “Children in care need to have the opportunity to live with loving foster carers who have their best interests at heart. We are supporting this Foster Care Fortnight in the hope of encouraging people from all across Wales to see if they could foster and give a child the best possible start in life.

“No child should be subject to any kind of abuse at home, but sadly many are. Foster carers can make all the difference to a child, and help them turn their lives around. You never know who you might be welcoming into your home. That first child through your door could be a singer, a writer, in fact, with your support, they may be able to be anything that they want to be.”

Freda Lewis, director of the Fostering Network Wales, said: “Only Men Aloud have done a great job in reinvigorating the popularity of male voice choirs in Wales and beyond, and we’re delighted that Tim is using this success to draw attention to the urgent need for more foster carers.

“During Foster Care Fortnight fostering services will be holding events across Wales, giving people the opportunity to explore what fostering is and what foster carers do. It’s the ideal time to find out if you have the skills to foster.”

Alan Torry, who has been fostering for 20 years, said: "Becoming a foster carer is the best thing I’ve ever done. Every day I’m helping young people to turn their lives around.

"Being a foster carer is one of the most challenging roles of my career, but by far the most rewarding. It's a true vocation and I wouldn’t change it for the world."

To find out more about fostering and becoming a foster carer, visit www.couldyoufoster.org.uk

ENDS

For media enquiries contact the Fostering Network press office on 020 7620 6425 or media@fostering.net 

Notes to editors

1. Tim Rhys-Evans founded Only Men Aloud in 2000. The male voice choir won the BBC's Last Choir Standing in the summer of 2008, and released their debut album shortly afterwards.

2. Tim is also musical director of Only Boys Aloud, finalists in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent.

3. On any one day there are more than 4,300 children living with 3,000 foster families across Wales.

4. A child comes into care and needs a foster family every six hours in Wales.

5. Foster Care Fortnight, the Fostering Network’s annual campaign to raise awareness of fostering and the need for more foster carers, runs from Monday 14 to Sunday 27 May 2012. Download our campaign press pack.

6. The Fostering Network is holding a celebratory event at the Senedd on Wednesday 16 May, in the media room from 12pm to 1.15pm. To attend, contact media@fostering.net 

7. The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading charity for all those involved in foster care. It exists to make life better for fostered children and the families that care for them. Follow us on Twitter @fosteringnet