Fill your empty nest this autumn by fostering with us

Are your children moving onto pastures new this autumn, taking their next steps into the world of college, university or work?

What will you do now? This stage in your life could be an ideal opportunity to consider fostering – turning what to many is a feeling of emptiness into a positive experience, whilst making a huge difference to a young person’s life.

It’s so important to recruit more carers so that children can remain in the local area, close to their school and community where possible. 

If people are looking to fill the void that an empty nest can bring, then fostering is an ideal way to go about it. Use your skills as a parent to nurture a young person and help them get a better start in life.

If you are over 21, fit and well enough to care of children, have a spare bedroom and can provide a stable home for a local child, you could foster. The council will provide you and your family with support every step of the way and provide ongoing training and advice, along with a competitive financial package.

Bridgend Foster Carer, Huw Pannier said: “For anyone thinking about fostering I would say, if you’re ready to take the next steps, speak to the Bridgend foster team. They are very helpful and will be able to give you all the advice you need and tell you what support they can offer. 

“There is no better feeling than helping a child to achieve something, no matter how big or small – it is really heart-warming to see.”

“If you think you could foster or, if you know someone who you think would be an ideal foster parent, please get in touch. You could be the person to help change a child’s future and find them the stable home they need.”

We’d also like to know if you can ‘bridge the gap’ in young people’s lives through providing specialist short term placements?

Our new ‘Bridge the Gap’ scheme is designed to help children and young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours.

Transitional foster carers will provide a holistic care package for children who have a variety of needs such as attachment issues, multiple placement breakdowns and difficulties with learning and education.

With qualifications or experience in fostering, residential, child care, social care, teaching or youth work, these carers will build one-to-one relationships with the young people to help them overcome these barriers.

When your own older children have moved onto pastures new, it might feel like something is missing. Becoming a foster carer can fill that gap and at the same time, help provide a child with the security and stability they desperately need.

All children and young people need a loving and caring environment in which to grow and thrive. It is our aim in Bridgend County Borough to ensure that everyone gets the best possible start in life, so we need our residents to help us transform the lives of children and young people.

If there are any of our residents who can offer a comfortable, safe and loving home, we would love to hear from them. Fostering isn’t easy, but it’s truly rewarding and can make a huge difference to the lives of children in care.

Councillor Phil White, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help for Bridgend County Borough Council

Anyone who fosters with Bridgend County Borough Council can expect unrivalled support. If you are interested in fostering with us, we’ll be there to guide you through the process, every step of the way.

For more information about fostering children in Bridgend County Borough, visit www.bridgendfostercare.wales/emptynesters or contact the Bridgend fostering team on (01656) 642674.