Posted on: Friday 10 July 2026
A Pontypool man has realised his ambition of becoming a foster carer after a career spent supporting young people.
Michael, 31, became an approved foster carer with Foster Wales Torfaen in April, with the aim of providing a stable home for teenagers.
As a Wellbeing Officer at West Monmouth School, he works closely with young people facing challenges such as anxiety, stress and social and emotional difficulties.
Michael decided to explore fostering after a conversation with one young person left a lasting impression.
He said: "In my role, I work with lots of children who are in care. One young person shared that all they wanted was to spend Christmas with a family. That really touched me and made me pick up the phone to find out more about fostering."
Since being approved, Michael has already welcomed a child for short-term weekend stays and is now preparing to offer a longer-term placement.
He hopes his experience working with young people will help him provide the best care possible and welcomes others in a similar position to his to consider fostering.
Michael, who is single, added: "Since my mum passed away, I found I had a lot more time to give. I cared for her for a long time, so fostering felt like the right next step for me.
"The assessment process was thorough, but I felt supported throughout. My social worker was fantastic and the Skills to Foster training really helped prepare me for the role."
The process to become a local authority foster carer typically takes around six months and includes training and assessments.
Across Wales, hundreds more foster families are needed to help keep local children within their communities, close to their schools, friends and support networks.
Foster carers come from all walks of life and can be single, married, working full-time, part-time or retired.
Cllr Richard Clark, Executive Member for Children and Families, said “It's fantastic to welcome Michael as one of our latest foster carers. His story shows that foster carers come from all walks of life and can make a real difference to a child's future.
“What matters most isn't your background or profession, it's having the commitment, patience and compassion to provide a safe, stable and nurturing home.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about fostering can contact Foster Wales Torfaen on 01495 766669 or visit
Fostering Teens in Torfaen