There are around 85 foster carers in Gwynedd who care for 175 children and young people across the county.
Foster care is usually a temporary arrangement and a child’s stay with a carer can last anything from a couple of days to several months, and occasionally a year or more.
Councillor Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council’s Social Services Portfolio Leader, said:
“Foster carers play a vital role and we are grateful for their dedication and hard work – without them many children, whose own parents are unable to look after them for any number of reasons, may have to move far from their own homes, away from family, friends and school.
“As a Council we are always keen to hear from people who are interested in becoming new foster carers. We need foster carers for children of all ages – form newborn babies to teenagers, and Gwynedd Council’s fostering team are always available to offer advice and guidance.”
It takes about six months to become an approved foster carer, from the initial stages of finding out information on fostering, to the preparation stages, which include training and meeting experienced foster carers and staff within the fostering service.
Gwynedd Council has foster carers living across the county. For example, since becoming foster carers in 2009, Anne and Keith Cook from Dolgellau have cared for six children ranging from two to 12 years old.
The couple who have two children of their own aged 22 and 17 are delighted they decided to get in touch with Gwynedd Council’s fostering team.
Anne who is a home carer and also works in a local school said: “Keith lost both his parents when he was very young and was brought up by other family members and I grew up in quite a conventional and stable family. Between us we felt we had a good range of experiences to draw upon as foster carers.
“Both our own children have been a part of the process, and our daughter who is studying child care at college at the moment has really enjoyed having other children around. She’s been a great help.”
Although it can be very challenging, Anne says that becoming foster carers is also very rewarding. She said: “You can see the difference that living in a family home can make to some of the children. Every child is different, but in the end they all just want to be loved and cared for.
“The ultimate aim is to see the children reunited with their family and it’s a good feeling when they’re able to go back to live with them.”
Keith, who works on the railway, added: “It’s been a brilliant experience. If you can make a child happy for the time they live with you, you can feel proud of what you’ve achieved. That will be our goal with every child who lives with us.”
Anne and Keith were given training by Gwynedd Council’s fostering team and said they are given constant support and guidance.
Keith said: “The support we’ve had has been great. My advice to anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer would be to get in touch with the Gwynedd Council fostering team.”
If you think you have what it takes to become a foster carer, contact Gwynedd Council’s fostering team on 01286 682660, e-mail [email protected] or visit: www.gwynedd.gov.uk/fostering
