A major national campaign is being launched by the Fostering Network Wales on 12 May to encourage more people to consider whether they have the qualities to foster.
Helen Mary Jones AM will be launching Foster Care Fortnight at the Senned, the Welsh Assembly Government Buildings, on Monday 12 May. The launch will feature the premiere of Telling My Story, a series of four digital stories produced by care leavers about their experiences of being in foster care. The event will be attended by foster carers, other social care professionals and young people with experience of foster care. Jane Hutt, minister for children, education, lifelong learning and skills, will be meeting with care-experienced young people before the launch.
New figures on the number of foster carers needed in Wales over the next year will be revealed at the event.
There is a shortage of 750 foster carers in Wales, which means that some children are unnecessarily moved from home to home, forced to change schools and live long distances from friends and family.
This year, under the strapline fostering: recognise the qualities you’ve got, the campaign encourages people to realise that they may already share the same qualities as those currently fostering, and that these are the basis for becoming a great foster carer. Key qualities include strong listening and observational skills, a good sense of humour, optimism and resilience.
Freda Lewis, director of the Fostering Network Wales, said: "Telling My Story gives young people with experience of foster care the chance to have their voices heard, and allows us a privileged glimpse into their lives. Foster carers have a vital role to play in nurturing and supporting such young people. The recruitment campaign we are launching today identifies the qualities needed to be a foster carer, and encourages people to recognise these in themselves."
Telling My Story was produced with the help of the George Ewart Centre for Storytelling at the University of Glamorgan, as part of a BBC Wales digital storytelling project, with support from charity Voices From Care Cymru.
To find out more about fostering and becoming a foster carer visit www.couldyoufoster.org.uk.