Posted on: Friday 17 May 2024
More than 160 local authority foster carers across Torfaen have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the lives of vulnerable children.
Over the past two days, the council’s fostering support team have hand delivered flowers to all fostering families residing in the borough as a thank you for all that they do.
On Wednesday, around 70 attended a special appreciation event at the Parkway Hotel, in Cwmbran, as part of celebrations to mark Foster Care Fortnight.
Dawn and Wayne, a husband-and-wife duo from Pontypool, joined two other couples in receiving a Special Recognition award for going above and beyond in their fostering role.
Since 2019, they have been involved in mainstream fostering and respite care, providing support for eight children in total. Additionally, they took on a mother and baby placement and eventually adopted one of the children under their care.
Dawn said: “It was an absolutely lovely surprise to win this award and we are so happy that we were nominated.”
“Over the past few years, we’ve cherished some incredible memories. One that truly stands out is receiving a poem for Christmas from a teenager we had cared for. It expressed how, initially, our home felt like just a roof over her head. However, through the care and love we’ve provided, she came to understand the true meaning of family - a feeling she had never experienced before.”
Seven foster families also received a long service award for providing stable and caring homes to children for more than a decade.
Among them were Catherine and Shane, a couple from Ebbw Vale, who were approved in 2014 and have since gone on become full time kinship and mainstream foster carers.
Catherine said, “It amazes me how children come into our home not knowing us but within a short time have adjusted and happy to have cuddles.”
“All children deserve love and support and it is important to bring them up as you would your own. When a child joins our family, they become our family.”
Torfaen Council’s Director of Children and Family services Jason O’Brien thanked everyone at the event, which included lunch and live music from pupils at Abersychan Comprehensive School.
Richard Clark, Torfaen Council’s Executive Member for Children, Families, and Education, who attended the day, said. "As we celebrate Foster Care Fortnight, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the remarkable foster carers across Torfaen. Their unwavering commitment and selflessness really does make a huge difference to the lives of vulnerable children.
“I also want to recognise the importance of our Bring Something to the Table and Fostering Moments campaign. They highlight the everyday moments that foster carers create—the shared meals, bedtime stories, and heartfelt conversations—that shape a child’s future.”
Foster Care Fortnight is an annual campaign organised by The Fostering Network in the UK and aims to raise awareness about fostering and highlight how foster care transforms lives. It runs from Monday, 13 May to Sunday, 26th May 2024
By fostering with the local authority, you’ll be part of a team with a depth of knowledge about the child’s journey, local services, and schools – proving invaluable to foster carers.
To find out more about becoming a local authority foster carer, call 01495 766669 or visit Foster Wales Torfaen.