Stability in foster care is often made up of ordinary things. A familiar school run. The same classroom. Friends who do not disappear overnight. Routines that stay in place long enough for a child to feel settled.
For Tom, that stability made all the difference.
Tom experienced foster care himself. Today, he is a foster carer with Foster Wales Flintshire. Being able to stay local and remain in the same school meant he did not have to start again each time something changed around him. He went on to complete his education, attend university, and now works as a lecturer.
“I’m a huge advocate that being in foster care shouldn’t hold young people back. It never stopped me from achieving my goals. From my own experience, I was supported through local authority to stay local and stay in the same school, which massively helped me in my education, career, going on to A Levels, university and working as a lecturer now.”
Today, Tom and his family are opening their home to local children, offering short-term foster care that allows them to stay within their own community in Flintshire and experience that same sense of belonging. It is busy, and it is very real life. For Tom, fostering comes from lived experience. He is a care leaver himself, and that is what shaped his decision to become a foster carer.
“Being a care leaver myself, I’ve always wanted to give something back. I’m a full-time lecturer at university and my wife’s a full-time teacher. And we’ve got two young children, but we manage to balance that and fostering well. It is a chaotic house, and the children generally like being involved in that busy family life.”
What matters most to him now is simple. Keeping children connected to the things that matter to them. When those connections stay in place, children do not have to rebuild everything around them each time something changes.
“I think keeping children local to schools, family networks, friends is really important for their continuation and stability.”
His message to anyone thinking about fostering is simple:
“If you’re unsure about fostering, maybe consider it. We managed to find a way that it works for our busy lifestyle working full time and young children, and it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Watch Tom’s story here
could fostering be your next chapter?
If you live in Flintshire, contact Foster Wales Flintshire and a member of our dedicated team will be in touch for a friendly, no obligation conversation to help you explore if fostering is right for you.
If you live anywhere else in Wales, visit Foster Wales for more information and to find your Flintshire fostering team.
