When Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Fostering and Adoption teams say you really can change the course of a young person's life - they mean it! We talk to Rebecca, who was adopted at an early age and also to foster carers to find out more.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Rebecca, 30, tells us how she thrived with her adopted family.

Every person who is adopted has a different story about how they came to be removed from their birth parents. There are just so many reasons why the family unit can break down. But it is never the fault of the babies and children who are removed from their birth parents. For me, my mother could not care for me and I was hospitalised due to malnutrition and went on to spend many of my first years in hospital due to ill health caused by neglect. My life was pretty grim.

I was placed in care aged six months and fostered by the family who went on to adopt me. They treated me as their own and gave me the care, support and confidence I needed. They were always very open with me, they never kept secrets and I have always understood everything about my family situation. My adoptive parents told me I was special and they'd chosen me and that was how I always felt. They had chosen to be my mum and dad, and also had three biological children of their own and been foster carers for many years before I arrived in their care. In fact, the incredible work they did was passed down a generation as their daughter, my adoptive sister, was unable to have children herself, so, eight years ago, adopted three siblings.

¦ There are 49 children aged from 0 to eight waiting to be adopted in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
¦ Twenty of them are aged two and under and nine of them have a brother or sister who should be adopted alongside them.
¦ Each of them has been removed their biological families, through no fault of their own, and many are affected by the issues that led to them being taken into care in the first place.

But each of them is also a child, with boundless energy and limitless imaginations. They have birthdays and dream of a cake topped with candles, the chance to twirl in their princess party dress or thunder down the road on their new bike.

They have energy - lots of it - and a penchant for Peppa Pig. They want to run and jump, sing and shout, cuddle up and read a story or tear around the football pitch until their legs can take no more.

They want a family and the chance for an upbringing that gives them the best start in life. Some people adopt because they choose to, others because they cannot have biological children, whatever their reason, the decision to adopt is never an easy one.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is realistic and knows adoption is not for everyone. But it is also certain there are many people out there who, if they took the first step and found out more, would thrive as adoptive parents.

There are huge amounts of information and support available at every step of the way, from information evenings and chats with those who have already adopted before you make a decision, to ongoing support, training and family days.

TESTIMONIALS
What foster carers and adoptive parents say

"Following years of trying to conceive, we decided to become adoptive parents and began work with our social worker, who has since become a strong contact in our lives."

"We will be honest and say the process was personal and took some time, which was daunting, but that was forgotten when we were told we had been approved and our daughter was placed with us."

"Months of anticipation became years of joy and we cannot begin to explain how wonderful the last three years of our lives have been and how our days have flown by with laughter and excitement."

"Of course it has not been easy and our daughter has presented challenges, but then, life is not easy and all children present challenges.

"Our advice would be to really consider adoption, don't give up and take strength and advice from the professionals who help you every step of the way - the support we were given was second to none, enabling us to become confident.

"We have since adopted our little girl's biological brother, bringing the siblings back together and making our family complete."

Rhondda Cynon Taff Fostering Services Unit 3, Floor 7, Pennant House Catherine Street, Pontypridd CF37 2TB Could you foster? Call 0800 0852635 FosterCare@rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk www.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk