PRIMARY schools across Flintshire have welcomed a new arrival into their classrooms, as part of a new campaign launched by Foster Wales Flintshire to promote fostering.

Foster Bear aims to raise awareness of local authority fostering and outline the urgency to recruit more foster carers in the county.

Foster Wales Flintshire is part of Foster Wales, a national network of 22 not-for-profit local authority fostering services in Wales, working together to build better futures for local children by helping them stay in their local area, when it's right for them.

 

Pupils at Ysgol Y Waun with Foster Bear.

Pupils at Ysgol Y Waun with Foster Bear.

 

Foster Bear is part of the fostering team and is joining primary schools across Flintshire to take part in daily activities with the children in class. Children in years 3 and 4 will be given the opportunity to take Foster Bear home for a weekend, during which they will look after and care for the bear. They will also receive a Foster Bear booklet full of fun activities to do in class and to record their weekend adventures.

The children's families will also have the opportunity to participate in this campaign by sharing photos and stories on social media of how Foster Bear has adapted to life with their new family, using the hashtag #fosterbear.

 

Pupils at Ysgol Y Waun with Foster Bear.

Pupils at Ysgol Y Waun with Foster Bear.

 

Flintshire's deputy leader of the council and Cabinet Member for Social Services and Wellbeing, Cllr Christine Jones, said: "It's great to work with Foster Wales and local primary schools on this excellent initiative to encourage a greater understanding and awareness of the benefits of fostering. I hope the children will enjoy caring for Foster Bear and find the activities engaging.

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"Following a successful trial in a local primary school last year, we are extremely proud to be launching this campaign which will also highlight the need to recruit more foster carers in our local communities. By giving the children the responsibility to love and care for Foster Bear for a weekend, they will get a sense of what the children in our fostering families need too."

Ysgol Y Waun, in Gwernaffield, is one of the first schools to open their doors to Foster Bear.

 

Pupils at Ysgol Y Waun with Foster Bear.

Pupils at Ysgol Y Waun with Foster Bear.

 

Headteacher Louise Ankers said: "We were privileged to launch this initiative to our school with visitors from Foster Wales, Flintshire Social Services and some of our Governors. Our children were very engaged during a whole school assembly where they shared their current knowledge about fostering, learnt new facts and asked very thought-provoking questions.

"Everyone is committed to spreading the word about fostering and this initiative has certainly captured the interest of our community. Foster Bear came home with me for the first weekend and I know we have lots of children desperate to be next. I look forward to following the journey of Foster Bear and sharing it with our children."

For more information or if you're a school wishing to sign up to work with Foster Wales Flintshire on this campaign please visit https://bit.ly/3XAFho8 or contact Melissa Cross on 01352 701937 or email: Melissa.cross@flintshire.gov.uk.

• To find out how you can foster in Flintshire visit fosterwales.flintshire.gov.uk.