Foster for your local authority to help young childrne to remain local, Foster Wales Powys says.

They are also encouraging those currently fostering with a for-profit agency to transfer over to their local authority team, as the Welsh Government’s landmark Health and Social Care Act begins the process of removing profit from the children’s care system.

Wales is the first country in the UK with plans to remove profit from both residential and foster care for children.

Last year, 85 per cent of young people with local authority foster carers remained in their area. 

However, only 31 per cent of young people cared for by commercial fostering agencies stayed local, with 7 per cent being moved outside of Wales entirely.

Sophia Warner, 29, from Brecon was placed in foster care for the first time at the age of two and was in permanent care by the age of eight.

Although she says her early life was chaotic, it was during this period she found her love for art.

As part of a new Staying Local campaign, she has produced a painting that symbolises the impact the foster care system has had on her and her family. Sophia said local authority foster care can help maintain sibling relationships, which she believes should be the priority.

Sophia says: “Brecon will always feel like home to me, because that’s where I made so many happy memories with my siblings. For me, staying local in foster care was about staying with my siblings.

“Eventually we were all separated and scattered across Wales. The emotional impact of that separation was huge. Having my siblings close by would have made such a difference.

“Maintaining ties with your community, your school and familiar surroundings can help ease some of that transition, but at the heart of it, it’s about the relationships and connections that young people need to thrive, especially with their siblings.”

In Wales, there are more than 7,000 children in the care system, but only 3,800 foster families.

There are currently 70 children in Powys in need of foster carers to look after them closer to home.

Foster Wales Powys are calling for more people to become local authority foster carers and encouraging those currently fostering with a for-profit agency to transfer over to their local authority team.

Powys foster carers Emma and Dan, who made the switch from an independent agency explain the difference they’ve seen when fostering with the local council.

Emma and Dan said: “We started fostering through an agency but moved to Local Authority fostering a couple of years ago. It was our intention to focus our efforts working for a service, instead of a business, which is how our agency started to feel for us.

“It was important for us to feel a stronger sense of togetherness, working alongside our own local authority within our own community.

“In our role as foster carers, we have seen first-hand how important it is to young people looked after to remain close to their home, school and social networks.

“Local councils need foster carers to achieve this and we hoped to be part of that solution, to be part of a wider team and service that fosters a sense of family and community.

“After 14 years as foster carers we are as passionate as ever, we continue to be fierce advocates for children and young people and find new ways every day to feel encouraged, motivated and deeply fulfilled.”

Foster Wales Powys is encouraging more people like Emma and Dan to open up their homes to help build better futures for local children in need.

Councillor Sandra Davies, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Generations says: “Foster Caring for the local council offers many benefits – from support and training to a sense of community, but most importantly, the option for young people to stay local in our county.

“If you would like to find out more about Fostering with the council, please get in touch with us for an informal chat.”

For more information about fostering, and how to transfer to Foster Wales Powys if you already foster, visit: https://powys.fosterwales.gov.wales/, call: 0800 22 30 627 or email: fostering@powys.gov.uk