Urgent appeal for Welsh foster carers after big rise in children needing homes – with case study

Welsh couple back Barnardo’s appeal for more foster carers as number of older children referred to its fostering services rises by 25% in a year

Barnardo’s Cymru is making an urgent appeal for more people to consider becoming foster carers, after the number of older children referred to its fostering services jumped by 25% in just 12 months. 

The children’s charity has launched its annual Fostering Focus campaign, which runs throughout the whole of September, and warns of a growing shortage of foster carers, leaving vulnerable children without safe, stable and loving families. 

The campaign is being backed by Andrea and Tony Ling from Cardiff who have been fostering with Barnardo’s Cymru for six years and say it’s the best thing they’ve ever done.

“People say our child is lucky to have us, but we are the lucky ones. Fostering is 24/7 but it’s been amazing,” said Andrea who spent part of her own childhood in care.

Barnardo’s Cymru has seen overall referrals increase from 694 to 818 children in the last year, up 18%. But demand has increased even more for homes for those aged 11 and over, up 25% from 380 to 477 (August 2021 to July 2022).

The urgent need for new foster carers comes at a time when Barnardo’s has seen a decline in the number of people coming forward to be foster carers. With the average age of a Barnardo’s foster carer aged 55 and older, the charity says the advancing age of many of its foster carers means an increasing number are now retiring. 

Meanwhile, a new YouGov survey for Barnardo’s encouragingly shows that a quarter (24%) of adults in the UK would consider fostering a child in the next five years. However, that figure drops by more than a half to 11% for children aged 11-15 and just 3% for children aged 16 to 17, suggesting that prospective foster carers may be more inclined to support younger children. 

Through its Fostering Focus campaign, Barnardo’s hopes to hear from people from all backgrounds and communities. There is no requirement for a foster carer to already have a child of their own, and the minimum legal age to become a foster carer is 21 with no upper age limit. 

Barnardo’s CEO Lynn Perry MBE said: “With record numbers of children in need of care and support, we urgently need more people to consider becoming foster carers.

“Foster carers can provide vulnerable children with the love, care and support they so desperately need to overcome challenges and work towards a positive future

“At Barnardo’s we welcome passionate individuals from all walks of life, and all communities. If you are over 21, have a spare room, are a UK resident and have the time and commitment to care for a child, then you could help transform their life chances.”   

Barnardo’s has more than 100 years of experience in fostering. Experts provide all the training needed and provide support 24/7. Foster carers will also get financial support, including a carer’s allowance to help make a positive difference to a child’s life.  

To find out more about fostering with Barnardo’s please visit  www.barnardos.org.uk/fostering or call 0800 0277 280. 

Watch this video of Christine talking about her fostering experience with Barnardo’s at youtu.be/wmJxRoAwCy4 

Andrea and Tony’s fostering journey

Andrea Ling was just 15 when she decided she would one day buy a big house and fill it with children in care just like her.

Life didn’t turn out quite that way, but a little later than planned she began fostering and hasn’t looked back.

Andrea and husband Tony from Cardiff have found fostering so rewarding that they are backing Barnardo’s month-long campaign to find new foster carers willing to give a safe and loving home to a child who has had a difficult start in life.

Andrea spent time in a residential home as a teenager and had a positive experience of being in care. “I had two fantastic social workers who helped me so much and made me the woman I am today,” she said.

She went on run a successful bridal salon and travelled the world with Tony, enjoying a lovely life. But despite having had her own child and Tony having two, Andrea never lost her childhood desire to give a home to children in care.

“She eventually wore me down,” joked Tony. “We started talking about it seriously about seven years ago and the rest is history,” he said.

The couple’s own children had all grown up and they decided to take on a long-term foster placement with the aim of giving a child a home until they are ready to start an independent life of their own.

“I always felt the need to give something back and decided that if I could just change the life of one child I’d be happy. With a long-term placement you can really make a difference,” said Andrea.

The couple went through the standard, rigorous checks and it was just over a year when they learnt they had been approved and a few months later they were matched with a child.

Andrea said: “We both cried our eyes out when we found out we had been approved. It was very hard at the beginning but it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.

“People say our child is lucky to have us, but we are the lucky ones. I still remember the first time he told me he loved me by pointing to his eye, making a heart with his hands and then pointing to me. All the money in the world couldn’t buy the feeling that gave me. A few days later he did the same to Tony.

“There have been so many special moments since then, our first holiday together, the first time we took him on a plane but most of all it’s been the simple, everyday things. Fostering is 24/7 but it’s been amazing.

“He will never be a foster child to us, he’s part of our family and we are part of his journey.”

The couple believe that empathy is the most important quality for anyone thinking of fostering, the ability to put yourselves in the shoes of a child and understand what they might have gone through and be feeling.

They urge anyone who might be thinking about it to find out more. “You get lots of support from the Barnardo’s team but you also learn with the child, so just go for it. I wish I’d started 20 or 30 years ago,” said Andrea, 51. Tony added, “The rewards are amazing and you don’t know until you try it.”