A former foster child from Brecon has highlighted the importance of keeping young people in care close to home, as Powys County Council encourages more people to become foster carers.
Sophia Warner, 29, was first placed in foster care at the age of two and was in permanent care by the time she was eight. Now an artist, she has created a painting as part of a new Staying Local campaign, which aims to ensure more children in care can remain in their communities.
“Brecon will always feel like home to me, because that’s where I made so many happy memories with my siblings,” said Sophia.
“Eventually we were all separated and scattered across Wales. The emotional impact of that separation was huge. Having my siblings close by would have made such a difference.
Sophia explained: “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.”
Last year in Wales, 85 per cent of young people with local authority foster carers remained in their area, compared to just 31 per cent of those placed with commercial fostering agencies. Seven per cent of those with private agencies were moved out of Wales entirely.
Wales is the first country in the UK with plans to remove profit from both residential and foster care for children.
Powys County Council currently needs foster carers for 70 children in the county. Foster Wales Powys is calling for more people to consider fostering and urging those with for-profit agencies to transfer to the local authority.
Foster carers in Powys Emma and Dan, who made the switch, said: “We started fostering through an agency but moved to local authority fostering a couple of years ago. It was our intention to focus our efforts on working for a service, instead of a business, which is how our agency started to feel for us.
“In our role as foster carers, we have seen first-hand how important it is for young people to remain close to their home, school and social networks. Local councils need foster carers to achieve this.”
Cllr Sandra Davies, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Generations says: “Foster Caring for the local council offers many benefits – from support and training to a sense of community, but most importantly, the option for young people to stay local in our county.
“If you would like to find out more about Fostering with the council, please get in touch with us for an informal chat.”
For more information about fostering, and how to transfer to Foster Wales Powys if you already foster:
Call: 0800 22 30 627
Email: [email protected]