Isle of Anglesey County Council’s fostering team, Foster Wales Anglesey, have won a prestigious Fostering Excellence Award, recognising their exceptional contributions to foster care.
The annual Fostering Excellence Awards are the UK’s most prestigious foster care awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in fostering and recognise those who make exceptional contributions to foster care every day.
Foster Wales Anglesey were recently presented with The Fostering Network award for a social work team at a special ceremony in Birmingham.
Nominated by foster carers Gwynfor and Barbara Jones, the team were praised for their support of foster carers, and their close working relationship with the Anglesey Foster Care Association.
They go above and beyond to support fostering families and are always willing to go that extra mile to help make foster care the best it can be. Their efforts help ensure the best outcomes for children and young people.
The Foster Wales Anglesey team are always looking for ways to improve the wellbeing of fostering families, having recently launched sessions to support foster carers to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing, in addition to arranging activities and new opportunities for children and young people.
The team work to build the family unit for children and young people in foster care, and children see them as part of the fostering family, working in partnership with the foster care association to organise events such as summer activity days, Easter egg hunts and Christmas parties.
To top it off, they recently took their dedication to new heights – climbing all three of the highest peaks in Wales within 24-hours as part of Foster Care Fortnight 2023, raising money for the Anglesey Foster Care Association.
The Fostering Network award for a social work team recognises fostering teams who are delivering excellent practice which is helping to improve outcomes for children and young people in foster care.
The award ceremony took place at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, hosted by broadcaster, TV presenter and inspirational speaker Ashley John Baptiste, who grew up in care himself.
Head of Children and Families Service and Director of Social Services Fôn Roberts said, “I am immensely proud of the Foster Wales Anglesey team and wish to congratulate them on this national recognition.
“The team was selected for all the support, activities, and hard work they deliver for our Looked After Children and Foster Carers and are now award winning, not just in Wales but across the United Kingdom!”
Councillor Gary Pritchard - Portfolio Holder Children, Youth and Housing Services and Deputy Council Leader added, “The annual Fostering Excellence Awards celebrate the people who go above and beyond to support others as well as highlighting the vital role of fostering to those outside the fostering community.
“I am delighted that the local authority’s fostering service has been chosen to receive The Fostering Network Fostering Excellence award for a social work team.
He added, “Our fostering community is truly a special one and everyone involved should be incredibly proud of their contributions to foster care for the Isle of Anglesey.
“With more foster families needed, it’s vital that more people consider joining our Foster Wales Anglesey team to provide stable homes for children and young people in Anglesey.”
Ends 19 October 2023
Notes for editors
Foster Wales Anglesey
Foster Wales Anglesey is the Isle of Anglesey’s local fostering team. Creating brighter futures for children in our community is at the centre of everything we do. We are part of the network of all 22 local authority fostering services in Wales.
Telephone: 01248 752 772
Email: fostering@anglesey.gov.wales
Website: https://fosterwales.anglesey.gov.wales/en-gb
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity. We are the essential network for fostering, bringing together everyone who is involved in the lives of fostered children.
The Fostering Excellence Awards
The Fostering Excellence Awards, sponsored by The Mortgage Brain, are the UK’s leading foster care awards. They celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement in fostering and recognise those who make exceptional contributions to foster care every year.
About fostering
Foster Wales Anglesey currently has over 55 foster families, some of whom will be caring for children from their own family (kinship care).
Currently, there are 145 children in care in Anglesey and about two thirds live with foster families.
It is vital more foster carers are recruited to enable children to live in their local area and remain close to their community on Anglesey, where they can thrive.