Be like Sharon and Theo and help change a child's life

Sharon Stafford-Facer and Theo Facer are backing a campaign aimed at recruiting a further 800 new foster homes in Wales by 2026.

There are more than 7,000 children in the care system in Wales, but only 3,800 foster families.

There are currently 127 fostering households who currently care for 164 children and young people in Swansea.

Sharon and Theo's fostering journey in Swansea since their approval as foster carers in 2013 has been remarkably impactful.

They have provided care for a total of 39 children and young people over this period.

This statistic underscores the breadth and depth of their commitment to fostering, showcasing their unwavering dedication to providing love, support, and stability to those in need within their community.

Sharon said: ''You know, we love doing it, we love helping the children, and they are part of the family, they become part of the family. That's what it's about, making them feel safe, wanted, secure, loved.''

The campaign is being run by Foster Wales - the national network of 22 Welsh local authority fostering teams.

Called 'Bring something to the table' it sees current foster carers share their realistic experiences of foster care and explores the small but significant human attributes people possess that can make the world of difference to a young person in care.

Currently, Wales is in the process of a whole system change for children's services.

The changes proposed in the 2021 co-operation agreement between Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru made a clear commitment to 'eliminate private profit from the care of looked after children.'

This means, by 2027, care of children that are looked after in Wales will be provided by public sector, charitable or not-for-profit organisations, and the need for local authority foster carers is greater than ever.

Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Care Services, Louise Gibbard, said: "Our local authority foster carers in Foster Swansea do an incredible job, supporting children by offering their skills, experience, empathy and kindness to ensure they feel safe and secure.

"But we need to recruit more amazing people in our area to ensure that all local children who need it have a welcoming home and the right foster carer for them.

"When you foster with Foster Swansea team ensures you have access to dedicated local knowledge and support, a brilliant learning and development package and more importantly, you can help children stay in their own local community, close to friends, their school and everything they hold close.

"We encourage anyone who wants to make a difference to a child's life to bring their skills and experience to the table and get in contact with Foster Wales Swansea."

For more information about fostering, or to make an enquiry, visit:

https://swansea.fosterwales.gov.wales/