Five years of local care with Foster Wales Carmarthenshire

Foster Wales Carmarthenshire is reflecting on five years of supporting local children and foster families, following the fifth anniversary of Foster Wales on Wednesday, 15 July.

Established in 2021, Foster Wales brought together all 22 local authority fostering services across Wales under one national network. As a not-for-profit service, Foster Wales ensures investment is directed back into supporting foster families and improving outcomes for children and young people. Since its launch, 704 new foster carers have been recruited, helping to provide local care and support to more than 1,000 children.

A key focus of Foster Wales has been keeping children close to the people and places that matter most to them. Over the past five years, 84% of children fostered through local authority fostering services in Wales have remained within their local communities, compared with 32% of children placed through independent fostering agencies.

Foster Wales Carmarthenshire has contributed to this success by supporting local foster carers to provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for children who are unable to live with their birth families.

In 2025, Foster Wales introduced the Big Welcome online portal, which enables foster carers to create personalised profiles featuring photographs and information about their family, home, pets and local area. The tool helps children and young people learn more about their foster family before they arrive, making what can be an anxious experience feel more familiar and welcoming. Across Wales, 762 foster carers now use the portal.

Foster Wales has also introduced Care Friends, an initiative that gives foster carers the opportunity to support local recruitment by sharing fostering opportunities with friends, family and their wider communities.

Cllr Jane Tremlett, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Children and Families, said:

I am incredibly proud of what Foster Wales Carmarthenshire and our foster carers have achieved over the past five years. Keeping children connected to their communities, schools, friends, and support networks can make a real difference at a difficult time in their lives.

The Big Welcome portal shows how a simple idea can have a positive impact, helping children feel more comfortable and reassured before moving in with a foster family. We look forward to building on these achievements and continuing to support local children and foster carers for years to come."

To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Carmarthenshire, visit Foster Wales Carmarthenshire.