Swansea foster mums are backing a campaign to recruit more foster carers to help make a world of difference to the lives of young people.
Former pub landlady Corinne Butters is one of 170 carers for Swansea Council’s Foster Swansea service and in the last two years she has looked after around a dozen children with complex needs.
She believes she has the best job in the world and is urging others to consider giving it a try.
Her call comes as Swansea celebrates Foster Care Fortnight and is running its Make a World of Difference and Foster recruitment campaign.
In Swansea the population of looked-after children has risen by 39% in the past year alone and, although over 170 families foster in Swansea, many more are still needed for the more than 500 looked-after children.
To encourage more people to consider fostering a trailer will be in Swansea City Centre from Monday May 24 to May 28 for information about fostering options.
It was when Corinne and her mum were running a pub together that fostering as a future career option came up.
When they left the pub trade Corinne entered fostering to lend mum a hand in achieving her dream but a few foster children along the way she realised it was how she wanted to spend her time too.
She moved out of mum’s house but only as far as next door. She’s been fostering as a single mum with lots of family support since.
The children and young people she welcomes into her life range from three years to 15 years and are mainly children with challenging behaviour.
During their time with her, Corinne helps them establish a routine and helps them to better engage with other children in their communities. Providing structure and security enables her foster children to better attend school and achieve their potential.
She said: “I would call myself an accidental foster carer. I never really set out to provide foster care but every day I am glad I became one.
“Many foster carers come across fostering that way and because there are so many different types of fostering and children who need care. They find a role which suits them down to the ground and never look back.”
Corinne says there really is so much personal satisfaction to be gained from working as a foster carer.
She said: “You see the change in a young person and suddenly you are making a real difference to that child’s life and how that feels can be quite overwhelming at times.
“One of my foster children went from 30% school attendance, absconding and criminal behaviour to 98% school attendance, coming top in their class and competing in a cross country team. I was so proud.
“Of course you can’t win them all but I believe it is the best job in the world.
“The training I have had and the support I get from Foster Swansea is absolutely amazing.
“Having compared notes with other foster carers Foster Swansea is a really first class team to work for.”
To find out more about Fostering contact Foster Swansea today on 01792 533200 or visit the website at www.fosterswansea.org
