Young people celebrated on National Care Day

This Care Day (16th Feb) Foster Wales recognise the efforts of those who have shared personal experiences to raise awareness and challenge stereotypes around young people in care. 

Across Wales, 53% of young people in care are aged 11+. Many of them have faced extreme hardship and adversity, and yet when asked, it’s the negative perceptions of wider society that hurt them most.

To challenge these misconceptions, a group of care-experienced young people (11-16) from Bridgend County Borough have worked with Foster Wales, and the former Children’s Laureate Wales,’ Connor Allen, to create a piece of poetry sharing their life experiences, in the hopes of educating the public around the realities of fostering.

Molly* who is 14 and is in foster care in Bridgend, co-wrote the poem and shared her experience of being a looked-after person: “As young people in care, we get judged before people even get to know us, people think we’re just troublemakers who do drugs and get pregnant underage. It’s just not true.

“We’re just normal people like everyone else, apart from our story is a little bit different. Everyone is human, and we make mistakes, some of ours are down to the traumatic experiences we’ve been through.”

“Having a foster carer who sees through false perceptions and recognises my past but still continues to support and encourage me to make positive steps forward is helpful for my wellbeing.”

Now on display on Brackla Street in Bridgend, the young people hope their poem will encourage people to think about fostering a child aged 11+.

Ben, 13*, who co-wrote the poem, explained how his foster carer has been vital to his wellbeing: “My foster carer helps me feel safe, they encourage me to try new sports or hobbies but also ask me to do things around the house, such as putting the dishes away, which isn’t always fun but makes me feel like I have a place in their home.”

Bring something to the table

Foster Wales – the national network of 22 Welsh local authority fostering teams are currently looking to recruit around 800 foster families by 2026, to provide safe homes for local young people.

As part of their new national campaign, ‘bring something to the table,’ the organisation shares 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.

To develop the campaign, they spoke to over 100 people – including young care leavers, who spoke about their experiences, in the hopes of positively shaping the future of foster care.

Tayler Walters, a care-experienced young person, who shared her insights to help develop the campaign, explained:

“It’s important to have stability growing up in foster care because you don’t necessarily have much stability around you. It’s so important for children’s mental health and everything around that.” 

“Her determination shone through”

One of Wales’ young care-experienced people was also recently recognised for their perseverance to overcoming adversity.

Eleanor, a teenager from Pembrokeshire, won The Fostering Network [Fostering Excellence] Award for Young People, the UK’s most prestigious fostering accolade, recognising her exceptional achievements.

Eleanor, who has lived with her foster carer, Jokë, since she was five years old, has overcome many difficult times. From the moment she arrived at Jokë’s, Eleanor always strived to do her best and was determined to overcome the challenges she faced.

Through hard work and perseverance, Eleanor enrolled in a Uniform Protected Services course at college two years ago. Her determination shone through, and she passed with flying colours, has secured a place at university and aims to work in the police force.

Alastair Cope, Head of Foster Wales, said:

“I’m proud of the young care-experienced people across Wales who are doing so much to change perceptions, grow understanding, and build a better future for other young people in care. 

“I want to encourage anyone who wants to make a difference to a child’s life, to get in contact with your local authority fostering team.”