'I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM IN LIFE IF I DIDN'T GO INTO CARE'

YOUNG adults who have experienced foster care have spoke about the life-changing impact supportive foster carers have had on their lives, allowing them to go to university, be supported financially and giving them a safe place to come back to.

- BRYANA FRANCIS

During Foster Care Fortnight, which ends today, care leavers have spoken about how foster care gave them opportunities they may have never had before, giving them a really positive experience despite it sometimes getting a “bad rep”.

Jake Jamieson, 26 from Gwynedd, is now a personal trainer.

He went into foster care at seven years old and had several foster families before he finally became part of Sian and Owain’s family full-time when he was 18, having previously spent time with them during summer camps.

Jake said: “I was in that time of life when you start a bit of independent living because you're going to university but you still need that support network to go through that transition.

“I’m extremely grateful they've allowed me to be part of their family - it’s been great ever since.”

Despite being placed with different families, Jake said his childhood was fairly settled as he was able to stay in the same school and therefore keep the same friends.

He said: “I don’t think I would be where I am in life right now if I didn’t go into care. Sian and Owain, they've been brilliant role models for me, helped me through univer-sity and helped me set up normal stuff like guarantors and bills.

“You always need your mum and dad to help you with things like that.”

Jake said his foster carers have three children of their own and have done lots of fostering over the years.

He has now moved out but continues to go back for holidays, birthdays, Christmas and Easter, and sometimes has them stay at his house.