At Foster Wales RCT, we are incredibly proud to celebrate some fantastic news: our Pioneer Foster Carers have been awarded The Fostering Network’s Group Award. This recognition celebrates their outstanding commitment, compassion and dedication to children and young people in Rhondda Cynon Taf—and we couldn’t be more thrilled to see their hard work recognised.
What Are Pioneer foster carers?
Our “Pioneers” are a dedicated group of experienced foster carers who play a central role in shaping, supporting and strengthening fostering across the local authority. They are the steady hands and open hearts who:
- Mentor and support foster carers, especially newly approved ones
- Share best practice and lived experience
- Advocate for children’s needs across professional networks
- Help shape services, training and development
- Act as ambassadors for fostering across the community
The Pioneer group is built on collaboration, trust and the belief that foster carers themselves are vital experts in the system. Their insight directly improves the experiences of the children and families we support.
Winning The Fostering Network’s Group Award is a testament to how powerfully lived experience and peer leadership can transform care.
How our foster carers feel
We asked Pioneer foster carers Tyrone and Tracy how they felt:
Tyrone: “The recognition for doing something that we are so passionate about is lovely. It reinforces why we do it and reinforces our commitment to other foster carers, the children in our care, and other foster carers’ care too.
It’s that community support and it does take a village! We take it very seriously, so to be recognised is brilliant.”
Tracy: “For me it’s about full circle. I had fantastic support when I first started fostering ___ years ago, and now I get to inspire the next generation so when I’m no longer a foster carer I know that stories, experiences, and advice have all been passed down… so it’s full circle.
I don’t consider this a job, it’s a vocation, but it is lovely to be recognised that what we do matters. Being part of the bigger picture, planting those seeds, watching our young people flourish. I don’t do this on my own, I’ve got a load of people behind me, and in life we’re all supported and I just think as foster carers, supporting each other who may have struggles just gives us strength and more strength and more strength.”
About The Fostering Network
The award comes from The Fostering Network, an organisation working across the UK to improve foster care, champion best practice, and ensure foster carers and the children they care for are properly supported.
The Fostering Network:
- Brings together foster carers, fostering services, charities and sector experts to strengthen foster care across the UK
- Supports foster families with guidance, training, resources and expert advice
- Campaigns for better policy, funding and recognition for foster carers and the children they care for
- Promotes high standards, research-informed practice, and improved outcomes for children and young people in foster care
Receiving an award from The Fostering Network reflects the strength, commitment and compassion of our fantastic Pioneers.
Support for local authority foster carers in RCT
When people foster with their local authority, they join a team that is rooted in the community and is committed to standing alongside them every step of the way. Our main priorities include keeping children local where appropriate, finding the right match for you and the children, and being not-for-profit, always.
At Foster Wales RCT, we are proud to offer:
Pioneer and peer support
Friendly, knowledgeable carers offering lived-experience guidance from people who get it.
A financial package
Our foster carers receive competitive fees and allowances that recognise their skill, time and professional role.
Local support groups
Coffee mornings, walk-and-talks, friendly meet-ups and family activities.
No pressure, no judgement — just connection.
Free leisure passes for the whole family
Encouraging time together, fun and wellbeing.
A dedicated supervising social worker
A consistent, caring professional by your side.
Learning and training opportunities
Professional development tailored to each carer’s needs, plus out-of-the-box opportunities – think documentaries, podcasts, e-books etc.
Foster carer consultations
We listen — and we act. Carers help shape our service in meaningful ways.
A message from our Cabinet Member for Social Care, Councillor Sharon Rees
“Each Foster Wales RCT carer is an extraordinary individual using their own skills and insights to offer the best care for local children and young people. We are proud of them all. The Pioneer scheme allows some of our longer-standing foster carers to share their extensive skills and lived experience with their peers. They create an environment of strong peer support and mentorship, and support the development of further skills and confidence.
Pioneers play a vital role in encouraging more people to consider fostering and supporting new carers to our fostering community – reassuring those who have never fostered before and welcoming those who have joined the service from other fostering organisations.
Who better to take you under their wing than someone who was once a new carer themselves and now has years of skills and experience to share?
Well done to the Pioneers, this award is a recognition of the vital work that you do and is well-deserved. Thank you for helping us to shape an effective, professional and nurturing fostering service.
Mention must also be made to the wider Fostering RCT team and support workers, who recognise that to provide the best-possible service to the people who need us the most, we often have to develop brave approaches such as this.”
Ready to take your step into fostering?
This award celebrates not only our Pioneer group, but the entire fostering community across RCT. Every foster carer, every young person, every professional partner has contributed to building a service based on partnership, empowerment and care.
As we continue to grow, we welcome anyone interested in fostering to reach out, ask questions and explore what fostering could mean for their family. Fill in our enquiry form here.
Because together, we can make a difference in the lives of children right here in our community.
