More foster carers are still needed in Caerphilly County Borough.
It is estimated that 8,600 new foster families need to be found across the UK this year.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s fostering team has said there is a particular need for carers who can look after teenagers and disabled children, and to keep brothers and sisters together.
The council currently has around 250 foster carers and will need 60 new foster care households this year to keep up with the rising number of children coming into care and to replace the foster carers that have retired.
Fostering is the chance to make an important difference to a child’s life. All types of families from all kinds of backgrounds can foster a child or group of children.
Caerphilly County Borough Council is currently looking for more foster carers for children of all ages in the borough who would be willing to help give them the best start in life.
Foster carers offer children a lot more than just a welcoming home, they offer security at a time when a child may be feeling very vulnerable and support children in their education, health and social well-being.
Cllr Robin Woodyatt, Cabinet Member for Social Services said: “Foster carers can and do make a tremendous difference to the lives of children and young people in their care. I would encourage anyone who is considering becoming a foster carer to get in touch and find out more about how they can change a child’s life – and enrich their own.”
The only criteria a foster carer must meet is to be aged 21 years or over – as long as a person has time in their life and space in their home they should be eligible.
Those who work aren’t excluded and neither are those who are single, rent their property or have a disability.
Full training and continuous support is provided for those who decide to foster and they are also given financial assistance, including fees.
Text ‘foster’ to 78866, call 0800 587 5664 or visit the council’s fostering page to find out more. Texts cost the standard network rate.