Uncertain future for Wales’ vulnerable children as poll reveals most people would never foster

Uncertain future for Wales’ vulnerable children as poll reveals most people would never foster

• Children in need of foster care face an uncertain future as a new poll by Action for Children reveals 88% of Welsh adults are unlikely to ever become a foster carer.

• Shortage of foster carers hits teenagers with complex needs hardest.

• Switching from family to family re-ignites memories of separation and loss, worsening mental health problems.

• Action for Children running #myspareroom virtual reality campaign throughout September to encourage more people to find out about fostering.

Children in need of foster care are facing an uncertain future as a new survey for UK charity Action for Children reveals that over 88 per cent of Welsh adults surveyed show little or no interest in fostering. (1)

This month Action for Children launches a new drive to recruit more foster carers aimed at highlighting not only the difference carers can make to a child or young adult, but how rewarding a job it can be. Over 93 per cent of Action for Children foster carers said they felt supported in their work and praised the communication, consistency and training the charity offered. (2)

“These shocking figures reveal the true scale of the current fostering crisis in Wales,” said Brigitte Gater, Action for Children’s National Director Wales.

“Across the country, we have more and more children and young people who desperately need the stability a foster carer can give them yet we have fewer and fewer foster parents.

“We are looking for people from across Wales who can provide a secure and loving home to children who have experienced trauma and loss. Lots of people can foster; it doesn’t matter if you’re older, whether you own or rent your home, are single, co-habiting or married, male or female or in a heterosexual or same sex relationship, but you must have a spare room and the ability to stand alongside children and young people to help them recover.”

Over 1,000 people were polled across Wales as part of the charity’s ‘Spare Room’ initiative. The findings highlight that more than half the country’s households have a spare room with three quarters using as a guest bedroom. Yet only a tiny minority would consider using that spare room to potentially make a life changing difference to the 500 children in need of a safe and secure home. (3) Over the coming month, Action for Children want to highlight how – with the right training and support – you could use your spare room to transform young lives.

Caroline Allen, a foster parent from Newport, said: ‘It suits our personal situation to look after the older children and they’ve been wonderful. They’ve been challenging but they’ve been fun as well and it’s lovely to see them progressing and experiencing new things you know they’ve never had before and indeed, teaching us things we weren’t aware of.

‘Like any job there are ups and down but to face those challenges, you get excellent 24/7 support and training to help you. The local authority and Action for Children work closely with you in order to guarantee some sort of permanency for that child, for their own wellbeing and a sense of belonging. No hurdle seems insurmountable. One of the best things is that you do get a sense that you are making a real difference to a young person’s life. It really is joyful living with the children.’

Gail Barnes, a foster parent from Merthyr added: ‘I like fostering teenagers because they all come with their own issues and we try to get teenagers to a place where they can survive in the world and be self-sufficient. Teenagers usually leave us to go into adulthood and it’s nice to see them on their journey.

‘My experience with Action for Children has been an amazing journey and continues to be so. I don’t think I could be a foster parent without the support I get from Action for Children. They’re on call 24/7 for me and the young people I care for. You don’t feel alone, you are part of a big family. I would recommend becoming a foster parent to everybody if they’ve got love, a spare room and can care for a child. Pick up the phone and take the first steps.’

The ground-breaking #myspareroom recruitment campaign uses virtual reality (VR) to encourage people to become foster carers. Members of the public will be able to experience through VR what it’s like to welcome a foster child into their home and see the difference it can make to a vulnerable young person. Through a virtual reality head-set – which will be available in Newport in late September – people will be able to experience the story of ‘Sophie’ – an 11-year-old foster child, based on a real-life story from an Action for Children foster family.

For further media information please contact Alastair Love, media officer at Action for Children, on 02920 347068 / 07872 675688 / alastair.love@actionforchildren.org.uk

Out–of–hours enquiries should be directed to the duty press officer on 07802 806679/ media.team@actionforchildren.org.uk

(1) Polling results:

Action for Children Spare Room Survey; conducted by YouGov between 6th – 11th July 2017; 4,262 adults surveyed (1,742 in England, 505 in Northern Ireland, 1,009 in Scotland, 1,006 in Wales). The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults (aged 18+) in each country (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

In response to “How likely, if at all, do you think you would be to become a foster carer, at any point in the future?”

o 1% chose “very likely”
o 6% chose “fairly likely”
o 22% chose “not very likely”
o 66% chose “not at all likely”
o 5% chose “don’t know”.

In response to “In general, which, if any, of the following do you think would be considered reasons that it is more difficult to become a foster carer, by the government or social service agency?”

o 15% chose “not being a parent already
o 32% chose “being single”.
o 17% chose “being LGBTQ”
o 39% chose “being over the age of 55”
o 37% chose “being under the age of 25”
o 47% chose “not having enough ‘free’ time (e.g. working full-time)”
o 16% chose “renting the home you live in”
o 59% chose “not having a spare room”
o 9% chose “none of those”
o 8% chose “don’t know”

(2) Action for Children Fostering Satisfaction Report 2016/2017

(3) 800 figure: https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/media-release-news/2016/over-9000-more-fostering-households-urgently-needed-during-2016 contains the following piece of information: “The need is for 7,600 foster families in England, 800 in Scotland, 500 in Wales, and 170 in Northern Ireland.”

How Action for Children works: from before they are born until they are into their twenties, we help disadvantaged children across the UK. We help them through fostering or adoption – and by intervening early to stop neglect and abuse. We make life better for disabled children. We influence policy and advocate for change. Our 7,000 staff and volunteers operate over 600 services, improving the lives of 390,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers every year. We succeed by doing what’s right, doing what’s needed, and doing what works for children.
For more information, visit actionforchildren.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @actnforchildren