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My family fosters

Published: 03/10/2017

Sons and Daughters Month: celebrating the foster family is The Fostering Network’s annual campaign to celebrate the vital contribution which the children of foster carers make to successful foster care. Every year, fostering services across the UK run events and activities to recognise and reward children and young people for the important role they play in welcoming fostered children into their families. Flintshire County Council’s fostering team will be holding an information session on 7 November at 7pm at the Springfield Hotel, Holywell offering the opportunity to find out more about becoming a foster carer. One hundred and twenty-four local families foster with Flintshire County Council. Around a third of Flintshire foster carers have their own children living at home as well as fostering. Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Services, Councillor Christine Jones, said: “Children of foster carers play an important role in welcoming fostered children into their families and ensuring successful fostering placements. “Many people say that the potential impact on their own children is one of the major barriers to becoming a foster carer. The reality is that many children benefit from being part of the support network offered by a fostering family to a fostered child. Seeing life from another’s perspective can be an enriching experience and can help a child learn and develop as an individual.” Janette, a Flintshire foster carer, said: “My own sons have been young fosterers for several years and by attending group events they get the opportunity to meet other young fosterers as well as the events making them feel valued and part of a wider family in the important role that they undertake.” Another Flintshire foster carer, Debra, said: “The young fostering group is great. Our children enjoy the fabulous days out. Not only do they have time out to enjoy themselves they also get the opportunity to meet other young fosterers. They recently attended a trip to ‘Treetops’ in Betws Y Coed they had a fantastic day of fun.” Debra, Flintshire Foster Carer Flintshire’s fostering team runs a support group for the sons and daughters of their foster carers and organise a fun trip during school holidays to say thank you. This year the group have enjoyed trips to bowling, laser quest, go karting and a summer trip to treetop adventure in Betwys y Coed. A Halloween animal party is planned for October half term. For more information on fostering visit www.flintshirefostering.org.uk or call 01352 701965. Janette and Paul with their own children