Foster Wales Blaenau Gwent has partnered up with Great British Bake-off finalist Jon to support Gwent’s new regional campaign ‘A great thing to do in 2022’. This campaign is aimed at encouraging more kind and caring people to consider fostering in Blaenau Gwent.
Whilst many of us have had family and friends there to support us during difficult times faced over the last 18 months, many children and young people across Wales need that support more than ever before. So why not make this the year for resolutions that last a lifetime – become a foster carer with Foster Wales Blaenau Gwent.
With the January campaign theme being ‘A great thing to do in 2022’, Newport ‘Bake Off’ contestant and local foster carer, Jon, has shared his fostering journey, as he hopes to inspire others who may be able to provide support for looked after children.
Jon said “I’ve been fostering now for just under a year, we’ve only actually had the one child, he came to us on an emergency weekend and we’ve still got him 10 months later. He is absolutely lovely and it’s been a really positive experience for all of us”.
When asked why Jon was helping us with the campaign he replied “I thought it would be great because we’ve got a lot out of fostering as a family and it would be lovely to promote it to other families.
It’s always weird when you get into something like fostering because you don’t know how it’s going to be, but it’s been so positive for myself and my family. So I hope this video will inspire other families to give it a try because you do get a lot from it.”
There is still a need to recruit an estimated 550 new foster carers and families across Wales every year. This is to keep up with the numbers of children who need care and support, whilst replacing carers who retire or provide a permanent home to children.
While no two children are the same, neither is the foster care they need. There is no ‘typical’ foster family. Whether you own your own home or rent, whether you’re married or single. Whatever your gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or faith, there are young people who need someone on their side.
Blaenau Gwent will be sharing content across our social media channels throughout January to help more people understand and value fostering and the positive difference it can make to young peoples’ lives.
If you think you could make a difference by becoming a foster carer in Blaenau Gwent visit https://fosterwales.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/