As part of Foster Care Fortnight, Foster Wales Ceredigion is calling on residents to become foster carers.

Research by Foster Wales, has found that people are put off applying to become a carer as they don't believe they have the skills and experience.

To emphasise this, Foster Wales has launched a cookbook titled 'Bring something to the table', which features more than 20 recipes from the foster community and celebrity chefs like Wynne Evans, Poppy O’Toole, and Colleen Ramsey.

Notably, it also includes contributions from former Great British Bake-Off hopeful Jon Jenkins and comedian Kiri Pritchard McLean, both foster carers.

Sophia Warner, a Welsh illustrator and care-experienced young person, provided the illustrations and wrote foreword for the cookbook revealing her steadfast connection to her foster mother's ‘Brecon Bolognese.'

Councillor Alun Williams applauded the initiative saying: "The cookbook is a fantastic piece of work that shows the realistic experiences of foster caring and emphasises the everyday skills that are needed to be a foster carer, such as cooking food."

With over 7,000 children in care and only 3,800 foster families in Wales, Foster Wales aspires to recruit over 800 new foster families by 2026 to provide caring homes for youngsters.

Councillor Williams said: "Ceredigion children need local families for all sorts of reasons, from short-term placements to longer-term matches, so if you think you could be a foster carer, get in touch with the team by calling 01545 574000. Help us make a difference in Ceredigion." The cookbook is available digitally at the Foster Wales website and will also be distributed to foster carers throughout Wales.