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| Foster children can stay with families until 21, under reforms | Foster children can stay with families until 21, under reforms |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Young people in foster care will be able to stay with foster families until the age of 21, under reforms being rolled out across Wales. | Young people in foster care will be able to stay with foster families until the age of 21, under reforms being rolled out across Wales. |
| The When I Am Ready scheme will let youngsters remain in "stable and nurturing" homes beyond 18, Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford has announced on Friday. | The When I Am Ready scheme will let youngsters remain in "stable and nurturing" homes beyond 18, Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford has announced on Friday. |
| Those in training or education will be allowed to stay until 25. | Those in training or education will be allowed to stay until 25. |
| The move is part of social services reforms to be introduced in April 2016. | The move is part of social services reforms to be introduced in April 2016. |
| Local authorities will have new duties towards those who wish to remain with their foster families after they reach the age of 18, under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which comes into force next year. | Local authorities will have new duties towards those who wish to remain with their foster families after they reach the age of 18, under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which comes into force next year. |
| 'Stability and continuity' | 'Stability and continuity' |
| The changes will bring Wales closer in line with fostering arrangements in England. | The changes will bring Wales closer in line with fostering arrangements in England. |
| Charities had called for councils to have a legal duty to provide for older fostered children. | Charities had called for councils to have a legal duty to provide for older fostered children. |
| Mr Drakeford said: "The new When I Am Ready arrangements will provide stability and continuity for young people leaving foster care as they prepare for independent living. | Mr Drakeford said: "The new When I Am Ready arrangements will provide stability and continuity for young people leaving foster care as they prepare for independent living. |
| "It will allow them to have security, protection and practical and emotional support, by allowing them to continue to live in a supportive family environment." | "It will allow them to have security, protection and practical and emotional support, by allowing them to continue to live in a supportive family environment." |
| The announcement comes during Foster Care Fortnight, the annual awareness campaign, which is running from 1 to 14 June in 2015. | The announcement comes during Foster Care Fortnight, the annual awareness campaign, which is running from 1 to 14 June in 2015. |
| Life after fostering | |
| Toni Evans spent her childhood under a care order, spending eight years in the system in the Vale of Glamorgan between 1982 and 2000. | |
| She told BBC Wales news she left care as soon as she could - and it was a mistake. She has set-up a Facebook page dedicated to helping those who have been through the fostering process - called "I am a foster kid". | |
| I was under a care order all of my life due to neglect and family illness. | |
| I left care as soon as I could. I saw a volunteer opportunity in England, which I grabbed as it offered accommodation. | |
| I should have stayed and completed my A levels, as at 17 - nearly 18 - I just went into the world. | |
| I felt alone. No longer in care and no family. | |
| I struggled, made mistakes, eventually found myself. | |
| Now 33, back in Wales, I still feel alone, even though I have many good friends. | |
| It's lonely being a foster kid, even while being in care. | |
| The system has changed quite a bit since my time. | |
| But the kids still feel the same as I did back in care. Like an object that needs care - not a child that needs love too. |