As Foster Care Fortnight (11–24 May) gets underway, Wiltshire Council is highlighting the experiences of local foster carers and taking the conversation about fostering out into communities across the county to encourage more people to consider fostering.

Wiltshire Council looks after around 500 children and young people, many of whom are able to remain close to their communities thanks to the commitment of local foster carers. More carers are still urgently needed, particularly to support older children, sibling groups and children arriving in the UK separated from their families.

This year’s Foster Care Fortnight theme, ‘This Is Fostering’, focuses on the everyday realities of fostering and Wiltshire Council is sharing the story of Tara, a local foster carer, to show what fostering can look like in real life.

Tara and her husband began fostering during the pandemic, after she had a change in perspective about what she wanted to do and how she wanted to support young people. They started fostering before having children of their own, and since then their family has grown alongside their fostering journey. While they initially thought they would care for younger children, their experience led them to fostering teenagers and children arriving in the UK separated from their families – something that introduced them to new cultures and meaningful milestones and reshaped how they see fostering and family life.

She said, “When we first went through the approval process we wanted to have younger children, but the way everything worked out, we started off with teenagers, and actually now our preference is for older children and separated migrant children.

“We enjoy the different cultures – it’s been really interesting hearing people’s experiences from different parts of the world. It’s just a totally different type of fostering.”

Alongside sharing real stories like Tara’s, the council’s fostering team will be out and about across the county during Foster Care Fortnight, hosting a series of ‘fostering road trip’ engagement events in communities including Bradford on Avon, Malmesbury, Melksham, Trowbridge, Devizes, Amesbury and Chippenham. These informal drop‑in sessions give residents the chance to speak directly with foster carers and social workers, ask questions, and find out what fostering could look like for them.

The road trip will culminate in an online fostering information event on Saturday 30 May, offering anyone who has been inspired by Foster Care Fortnight the opportunity to learn more from home. More information here Fostering events – Fostering with Wiltshire Council

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Foster carers across Wiltshire provide stability, care and understanding to children and young people at some of the most challenging times in their lives. Tara’s story shows that there is no one ‘type’ of foster carer, and that fostering can grow into something people may never have expected.

“Through Foster Care Fortnight, our fostering road trip events and the online information session at the end of May, we’re giving people plenty of opportunities to talk to us, hear real experiences and explore whether fostering could be right for them. If you’ve ever thought about fostering, even quietly, Foster Care Fortnight is the perfect time to find out more and take that first step.”

Wiltshire Council works to support foster carers locally so that more children can stay close to the people and places that matter to them – their communities, schools and support networks and avoid having to move out of the county.

People from a wide range of backgrounds and family situations can foster. You don’t need to make a commitment straight away – simply finding out more could make a lasting difference to a child’s life.

Wiltshire Council provides comprehensive training, ongoing guidance, and a dedicated team to support foster carers every step of the way. People can be single, married, working, or retired. If people have a spare bedroom, are aged over 21 and have the time to care, they could foster. Those fostering babies up to 12 months can use their own bedroom if space allows for a cot.

More information on becoming a foster carer for your local council can be found on Fostering South West’s website, www.fosterwithyourlocalcouncil.org.uk/(opens new window) , or you can speak directly to a member of the recruitment team via 0300 456 0120, or info@fosterwithyourlocalcouncil.org.uk(opens new window).