The Fostering Network Wales will be launching the latest issue of Thrive, the magazine for young people in Wales, at a special event on 11 November.

The special edition of Thrive (with Welsh and English versions) has been produced to share with young people the findings of  research conducted with looked after children, carers, policymakers and social care providers in Wales about their views on school and education. The research was commissioned by the Welsh Government and was conducted by CASCADE (the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre) in conjunction with The Fostering Network, Voices from Care Cymru and Spice Innovations. The report also provides an insight into children, young people and care leavers’ opinions on how policies and practices could respond to its findings.

As well as launching the magazine, the event will hear the CASCADE research team present the findings of the report and there will be talks from Welsh Government and The Fostering Network and interactive presentations from Voices from Care and Spice Innovations. To compliment the final report and the magazine, the project has also produced original music, artwork and films.

Maria Boffey, from The Fostering Network Wales and the editor of Thrive, said: ‘At The Fostering Network we know that raising the aspirations and educational outcomes of looked after young people is vital if they are to be fully prepared to enter into adulthood successfully. That’s why we were very pleased to be able to work with CASCADE to find out looked after young people’s views on their schooling and education; and we are delighted to be launching the latest issue of Thrive in response to our findings. We hope that young people living with foster families will find it dynamic and engaging, but more especially we hope that they will find it practical and useful.’

To find out more about Thrive contact maria.boffey@fostering.net.

Download the latest issue of Thrive.