Comedian and Anglesey foster carer Kiri Pritchard-McLean has contributed one of many special recipes included in a brand new cookbook launched during Foster Care Fortnight™
(13 May until 26 May).

‘Bring something to the table’ is full of recipes and life-changing fostering moments from carers and care experienced people.

This Foster Care Fortnight™, Foster Wales Anglesey is calling on people in the area to consider becoming foster carers to support local young people in need.

Recent research by Foster Wales – the national network of local authority fostering services – found people are often put off applying to become a carer because they don’t believe they have the ‘right’ skills and experience.

In their new cookbook – Bring something to the table – Foster Wales highlight the simple things, a carer can offer – like the security of a regular meal, family time around the table, and creating new food favourites.

Bring something to the table has over 20 recipes, including recipes from the foster care community, and celebrity chefs.

MasterChef Winner, Wynne Evans; Young MasterChef Judge, Poppy O’Toole; and cook/author Colleen Ramsey have contributed recipes. Also featured are Olympic athlete and foster care campaigner, Fatima Whitbread, who was herself in care.

Former Great British Bake-Off contestant Jon Jenkins and comedian Kiri Pritchard Mclean have also added recipes – drawing on their personal experiences as foster carers.

Kiri and her partner have been providing respite foster care on Anglesey since 2021. She has contributed Chicken Kabsa to the cookbook.

Kiri explained, “We’re lucky enough to provide short breaks and stays to a rotating cast of fantastic young people.”

“Without exception these young people have brought joy and laughter to our house and each stay we have teaches us something about the world and often ourselves. We feel very lucky to spend time in their company and we have been surprised at how much it’s brought us together as a couple too.”

She added, “The recipe we have shared is a great example of how foster caring is enriching in each direction. Knowing we had a young person originally from Syria coming to stay with us we tracked down a traditional Middle Eastern recipe that he had described to his foster family. We were able to give him a taste of home and we’ve gained a new recipe in our household that everybody loves.”

Care-experienced young people share authentic experiences

To launch the book, Colleen Ramsey, author of ‘Bywyd a Bwyd, Life Through Food’, will host a cookery workshop for young care-experienced people to learn a new recipe and vital cooking skills to take into their future independent lives.

Young care experienced people have also been heavily involved in the development of the cookbook.

Sophia Warner, a Welsh illustrator, campaigner, and care-experienced young person, illustrated and wrote the foreword for the cookbook:

“When I was younger, I vividly recall grilling my foster mum about the origins of the food she presented, insisting it hailed from Brecon, my beloved childhood stomping ground. I penned ‘Brecon Bolognese’ for the cookbook, based on my foster mum’s recipe.

“This recipe holds a special place in my heart because it was the first meal I had when I moved into my foster home. I mentioned that my birth mum used to make it and my foster mum lovingly prepared it for me. As I sat around the table with my new foster family, I felt a sense of belonging and warmth, making me feel truly welcome.”

More foster families are needed across Wales

Every May, Foster Care Fortnight™ - The Fostering Network's annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering and show how foster care transforms lives – hope to raise awareness of the need for more foster carers.

In Wales, there are more than 7,000 children in care, but only 3,800 foster families.

Foster Wales has set out with the bold aim of recruiting over 800 new foster families by 2026, to provide welcoming homes for local children and young people.

Anglesey’s Director of Social Services and Head of the Children and Families Service, Fôn Roberts, said: “I’m delighted to see the new Foster Wales cookbook come to fruition during this year’s Foster Care Fortnight™, and that it features one of our very own Anglesey carers, Kiri Pritchard-McLean. I hope it helps inspire future foster carers as well as support foster families and care-experienced young people – it’s the simple things that really make a difference.

“We know that the stability of regular mealtimes and spending time together around the table. Everyday simple pleasures are so important and our family of Anglesey foster carers already do an excellent job in offering the love, care and support that children need. Thank you for everything you do!

He added, “I’d encourage anyone who’s been thinking about fostering to get in touch. Whether your just curious or if you’ve been thinking about it for years. Take that first step, you could make a world of difference for a child in Anglesey. Our experienced team are on hand to speak to you and to help guide you along the journey to fostering.”

The cookbook will be distributed to foster carers across Wales and a digital version can be downloaded from bring something to the table - foster wales (gov.wales)

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

Notes to editors

Interviews are available with representatives from Foster Wales and young care experienced people, throughout Foster Care Fortnight.

For more information or media requests, please contact elouise@wearecowshed.co.uk / georgia@wearecowshed.co.uk

About Foster Care Fortnight

• Foster Care Fortnight™ is The Fostering Network's annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering and show how foster care transforms lives.
• Foster Care Fortnight 2024 will take place from 13-26 May.
• The theme is #FosteringMoments.

Recipes and contributors

Celebrity recipes

• Colleen’s ‘everything’ sauce - Colleen Ramsey, presenter, and author of the bilingual family cookbook, Bywyd a Bwyd - Life Through Food
• Wynne’s family style spaghetti - Wynne Evans, MasterChef Winner
• Poppy’s sausage and vegetable traybake - Poppy O’Toole, Young MasterChef Judge
• Jon’s Pasteis de Nata - Jon Jenkins, Great British Bake off star and foster carer, Newport
• Fatima’s family cottage pie - Fatima Whitebread, MBE, 2x Olympic medallist, world javelin champion, world record holder, and fostering campaigner.
• Chicken Kabsa - Kiri Pritchard Mclean is a comedian and foster carer in Anglesey. Her stand-up show, Peacock, shares her journey to become a foster carer.

Care leavers

• Brecon Bolognese - Sophia, illustrator, and care leaver, Cardiff
• June’s Cheesecake - John, founder of the Care Experience Network, Care Experienced Specialist for the John Lewis Partnership, a care leaver, and Independent local authority foster carer panel member.
• Ryan’s Fishcakes - Ryan, aspiring chef, and care experienced young person
• Tuna pasta bake - Sam*, Care leaver, and member of Voices from Care Cymru – a group which brings young people together throughout Wales, who are, or have been looked after. Any young person, who is or has been looked after in Wales, can become a member.
• Oreo Brownies - Rhys, professional chef, and care leaver

Foster Carers

• Grandma’s corned beef hash - Ian, foster carer, Conwy
• Nan’s cheese and bacon pie - Emily, foster carer, Newport
• Jenny’s Homemade Pizza - Jenny, foster carer, Flintshire
• Pete’s special pasta - Pete and Vonda, foster Carers, Denbighshire
• Root Vegetable Crumble - Ian, foster carer, Neath Port-Talbot
• Hidden veg gravy - Christine and Mike, foster carers, Vale of Glamorgan
• Vicky’s Yorkshire puddings - Vicky, foster carer, Bridgend
• West Indian Dumplings - Sue, foster carer, Ceredigion
• Thai Green Curry - Tracey, foster carer, Neath Port Talbot
• Chicken Kadhai (Special occasion curry) - Kanu, foster carer, Gwynedd
• Eid Dinner (Akhni fulab (lamb pilau) Pudding Kheer) - Claire, foster carer, Cardiff

Ends 15 May 2024