Care experienced young people share the foster relationships that changed their lives

Young people with experience of being in care are sharing the meaningful relationships they have developed through the fostering community that has changed their lives for the better.

The theme for this year’s Foster Care Fortnight, which takes place annually and falls between 12 and 25 May 2025, is celebrating the power of relationships.

Whether it’s the bond between a carer and a child, the relationship created with supportive social workers, or the friendships built with other foster carers in a community, strong relationships are the golden thread that run through all fostering stories.

In Wales, there are more than 7,000 children in care, but only 3,800 foster families. Foster Wales is aiming to recruit an additional 800 carers by 2026.

Ashlee, from Denbighshire has formed lasting relationships with her foster family as they continue to support her into adulthood.

Ashlee went to live with her foster carers, Sharen and Colin, at the age of 13. Although going into care as a teenager was hard at first, having a routine, structure and stability encouraged her to thrive in school, make new friends and made her believe that she could achieve in life.

Ashlee, who is now 20, said:

“I won’t lie, it was hard at first, despite everything, I missed my birth mum and I was miserable. I didn’t want to do anything with anyone, except for my younger siblings, who hardly left my side.

But quite soon afterwards, something changed. I realised how welcomed and wanted I was, and how at home I felt there.

I felt part of a big, happy family and I absolutely loved that feeling.

Deep down, I knew that I was going to be in foster care for the long term so I decided to embrace it and make the most of the new life and the opportunities I now had.”

Growing up at home, Ashlee had to take on a lot of the household responsibilities, which meant that her education and social life suffered.

Ashlee added:

“Before I came to live with Sharen and Colin, I had no routine in my life. I was often up until the early hours of the morning, which meant I hardly ever went to school and had no friends.

In a way, going into foster care was a bit of a relief as the responsibility of being a ‘parent’ to my younger siblings was taken off me. Colin and Sharen naturally took over that role which meant I could be a ‘normal’ teenager and enjoy being an older sister, which is how it should be.

We did nice things like go swimming and played board games. I bonded with the other foster children in the house, which was nice as I was gaining more brothers and sisters!

Having some structure, routine and boundaries in my life really helped me thrive in so many ways. I never rebelled against it, I actually welcomed it. It did me the world of good!

My attendance at school soon shot up to 98%, I made new, lifelong friends and actually started to enjoy school.

With Sharen and Colin’s support, I went on to achieve amazing grades, went to college to study Health and Social Care and I now have a full time job as a Health Care Support Worker, which I love.”

Ashlee now lives in her own self-contained annex as part of the family home and continues to be close to her foster family, whilst building independence at the same time.

Ashlee said:

“Words can’t describe how much my foster family mean to me. They saved my life and I will be forever grateful for everything they have done, and are still doing, for me.”

Foster Wales Denbighshire Team Manager at Denbighshire County Council, Julie Fisher added:

“Foster care is about much more than providing a safe place for a child to stay. It's about building strong and healthy relationships with everyone involved in fostering, and is essential for the emotional well-being of our children and young people, and their future success.

Foster Care Fortnight is an opportunity to celebrate those powerful and lifelong relationships, like Ashlee has with her foster family, and to thank our amazing fostering community here in Denbighshire for everything they do for our children and young people.”

To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Denbighshire visit: denbighshire.fosterwales.gov.wales