Bala man shares how foster carers gave him 'secure home'
Jake, now 26, was just eight years old when he began short stays at foster carer Sian's house.
The visits, which lasted a few days at a time, were filled with football games in the garden and competitive Wii Sports sessions.
Jake said these visits felt like holidays, and he always felt part of the family.
He said: "In the past, if I said I was in care, people's instant reaction would be to say 'I'm sorry to hear.'
"But they shouldn't be sorry.
"I see it as a really good thing to be in care because it gives young people a better life, a better opportunity at doing something they probably would never have done otherwise."
Jake continued to visit Sian's house throughout his childhood in care.
While studying sport nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University, Jake's circumstances changed and he contacted Sian and her husband Owain, who welcomed him into their home on a permanent basis.
With their support, Jake has gone on to establish his own business as a personal trainer and now lives independently in Liverpool.
Jake said: "If I have any problems or issues, they are my first point of contact.
"I see the whole family just as sort of my family now.
"I see them as my siblings as well."
Sian said: "I'm so proud of him.
"He's driven.
"Obviously I'm proud of what he's achieved, but I'm proud of so much more than that.
"He's got clients, he's successful in his business but for me I take more pride in the young man he has become and that he has allowed all his experiences to shape him.
"I'm so pleased to see that he's able to maintain relationships and that he sees us as his family."
Jake's story comes as part of Foster Care Fortnight, which takes place between May 12 and May 25, 2025.
The fostering community in the UK is celebrating the power of relationships.
Foster Wales is appealing to recruit an additional 800 local authority foster carers by 2028 to address this need.
Alastair Cope, head of Foster Wales, said: "Foster Care Fortnight always offers a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the people who create lasting change in the lives of so many children in Wales.
"Every fostering journey relies on strong, trusting relationships to create the stability within a loving home that all children deserve.
"Whether between a foster carer and a child, a child with their foster siblings, or between a family and their social worker, these relationships open up new possibilities for a child's future and help support them into successful independent lives."
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Jake, now 26, was just eight years old when he began short stays at foster carer Sian's house. The visits, which lasted a few days at a time, were filled with football games in the garden and competitive Wii Sports sessions. Jake said these visits felt like holidays, and he always felt part of the family. He said: "In the past, if I said I was in care, people's instant reaction would be to say 'I'm sorry to hear.' "But they shouldn't be sorry. "I see it as a really good thing to be in care because it gives young people a better life, a better opportunity at doing something they probably would never have done otherwise." Jake continued to visit Sian's house throughout his childhood in care. While studying sport nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University, Jake's circumstances changed and he contacted Sian and her husband Owain, who welcomed him into their home on a permanent basis. With their support, Jake has gone on to establish his own business as a personal trainer and now lives independently in Liverpool. Jake said: "If I have any problems or issues, they are my first point of contact. "I see the whole family just as sort of my family now. "I see them as my siblings as well." Sian said: "I'm so proud of him. "He's driven. "Obviously I'm proud of what he's achieved, but I'm proud of so much more than that. "He's got clients, he's successful in his business but for me I take more pride in the young man he has become and that he has allowed all his experiences to shape him. "I'm so pleased to see that he's able to maintain relationships and that he sees us as his family." Jake's story comes as part of Foster Care Fortnight, which takes place between May 12 and May 25, 2025. The fostering community in the UK is celebrating the power of relationships. Foster Wales is appealing to recruit an additional 800 local authority foster carers by 2028 to address this need. Alastair Cope, head of Foster Wales, said: "Foster Care Fortnight always offers a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the people who create lasting change in the lives of so many children in Wales. "Every fostering journey relies on strong, trusting relationships to create the stability within a loving home that all children deserve. "Whether between a foster carer and a child, a child with their foster siblings, or between a family and their social worker, these relationships open up new possibilities for a child's future and help support them into successful independent lives."
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