What Maethu Cymru | Foster Wales does

Foster Wales (Maethu Cymru) is the statutory national network of all 22 Welsh Local Authority fostering services, operating as a not-for-profit coordination hub headquartered in Cardiff with a national staff of 18 and a wider operational footprint spanning every county in Wales. The organisation recruits, assesses, trains, and supports foster carers, and matches them with looked-after children ranging from birth to age 18 (with supported lodgings extensions to age 25). Its service portfolio covers short-term, long-term, therapeutic, parent-and-child, young refugee, and supported lodgings fostering types, and it currently supports more than 2,700 approved local authority foster carers serving approximately 1,857 children each year.

Operationally, Foster Wales does not run proprietary technology platforms; its infrastructure is limited to a national website (fosterwales.gov.wales) with a postcode-based local team finder, Microsoft Teams for panel meetings and online information events, and standard local authority social care IT systems. The go-to-market model is community-led and direct-to-consumer: prospective carers initiate contact via local authority teams, the website, online information sessions, or community outreach, then proceed through a 4-6 month assessment culminating in Foster Panel recommendation and Agency Decision Maker approval.

The funding model is entirely public sector: the network is funded by Welsh Government and the 22 constituent local authority budgets, with no commercial revenue, private capital, or fee-for-service income. Foster carers receive weekly allowances (Wales National Minimum Allowance ranging from £208 to £260 per child depending on age, 2026/2027 rates) plus skill-based fee payments and are treated as self-employed for tax purposes with Qualifying Care Relief available. Marketing is delivered through a multi-channel community approach spanning Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, content marketing, online information events, and PR-led success stories, anchored by the award-winning 'Bring Something To The Table' national recruitment campaign.

Name

Maethu Cymru | Foster Wales

Legal name

Foster Wales (Maethu Cymru)

Website

https://fosterwales.gov.wales

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Foster Wales (Maethu Cymru) is the statutory national network of all 22 Welsh Local Authority fostering services, recruiting and supporting over 2,700 foster carers to provide local, stable placements for approximately 1,857 looked-after children each year across Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Local authority fostering
• Foster carer recruitment
• Public social services
• Children's services
• Foster care network

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices23 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public sector funding (Welsh Government / Local Authority): Foster Wales is a not-for-profit network of 22 Welsh local authorities providing fostering services. It is publicly funded through Welsh Government support and local authority budgets. There is no commercial revenue model; all funding is directed toward supporting children in care and foster families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Foster Wales (Maethu Cymru) is the national network of all 22 Welsh Local Authority fostering services. It recruits, assesses, trains, and supports foster carers across Wales, and matches them with children in need of foster care. The organisation delivers statutory fostering services on behalf of local authorities, including short-term, long-term, therapeutic, parent-and-child, young refugee, and supported lodgings placements, alongside financial allowances and ongoing supervision.

Product overview

Foster Wales is the national network of 22 Welsh Local Authority fostering services—a not-for-profit public service organization rather than a technology product. The organization operates as a coordinated network offering various fostering service types: Short-Term Fostering for emergency and temporary care, Long-Term Fostering for permanent placements until adulthood, Therapeutic Foster Care for children with trauma-related needs, Parent and Child Fostering for mothers/babies, Supported Lodgings for semi-independent young adults aged 16+, and Young Refugee Fostering for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The network provides recruitment, training, financial support, and matching services for foster carers across all 22 local authorities in Wales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foster Wales National Fostering Network National coordinating network of all 22 Welsh Local Authority fostering services, providing recruitment, assessment, training, supervision, allowances, and matching of foster carers with children across Wales.
• Short-Term Fostering Foster care placements ranging from overnight to a couple of years, including emergency placements, provided while a child's situation is assessed and longer-term plans are made.
• Long-Term Fostering Permanent foster care where children are cared for within a stable family environment until adulthood when return to birth family or adoption is not possible.
• Therapeutic Foster Care Specialised parenting approach supporting the complex emotional needs of children who have experienced trauma, providing access to trained therapists and trauma-informed care strategies.
• Parent and Child Fostering Specialist fostering service where babies are placed alongside their parents in a foster carer's home, teaching parenting skills while supporting the parent-child relationship and family unity.
• Young Refugee Fostering Foster care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young refugees aged 14–17, providing stability, guidance, and support while they navigate immigration status and adapt to life in Wales.
• Supported Lodgings for Young Adults Semi-independent living accommodation for young adults aged 16+ transitioning from foster care, providing a stable home environment while they develop essential life skills with support from a host.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of children in local authority foster care in Wales stay in their local area and local school
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Admiral GroupminorOthersAdmiral Group (a UK insurance company) has joined the Fostering Friendly Scheme, pledging to support employees who foster by offering paid time off for compulsory foster training and the equivalent of parental leave when a foster child first enters the household. This partnership provides workplace support for foster carers who are employees of Admiral.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Fostering Network: UK-wide charity and membership body representing foster carers, foster care services, and children in care. Comparable as the sector-wide umbrella for fostering providers, although it functions as an advocacy and support organization rather than a direct placement provider.
• Barnardo's: One of the UK's largest children's charities, operating fostering and adoption services alongside broader child welfare programs. Comparable as a non-profit fostering provider with a national footprint and similar child welfare mission.
• Action for Children: Major UK children's charity delivering fostering, residential, and family support services. Comparable as a non-profit provider of foster care for looked-after children across the UK, though operating at greater scale and geographic breadth.

Direct peers

• National Fostering Agency: Large independent fostering agency providing foster placements across the UK. Comparable as a direct competitor in placing children with approved foster carers, particularly for therapeutic and complex-need placements.
• Foster Care Associates: Independent fostering agency operating across the UK, providing short-term, long-term, and specialist placements. Comparable as a private sector competitor to Foster Wales' local authority fostering services.
• Compass Fostering: Independent fostering agency with regional presence across parts of the UK, including Wales. Recruits and supports foster carers in direct competition with local authority services like Foster Wales.
• St. Vincent's Fostering Service: Catholic voluntary agency providing fostering services across parts of the UK. Comparable as a non-statutory, non-profit fostering provider with a similar mission around children's welfare and local-area support.
• TACT (The Adolescent and Children's Trust): One of the UK's largest fostering and adoption charities, providing foster placements across multiple regions. Directly comparable to Foster Wales as a non-profit fostering service provider with a similar range of placement types.

Emerging players

• Excel Fostering: Smaller independent fostering agency operating in selected UK regions, providing fostering placements and carer support. Comparable as a private sector competitor at a smaller scale, often competing for the same foster carer pool.

Others

• Welsh Government - Children and Families Directorate: The parent and principal funder of Foster Wales, setting policy and funding for children's services in Wales. Relevant as the commissioning body that determines demand, funding levels, and statutory direction for Foster Wales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNMOmIi8-xx_LUdUuumhtcQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/FosterWalesCymru
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foster-wales-maethu-cymru
• Instagraminstagram.com/foster_wales
• TikToktiktok.com/@maethucymru.fosterwales

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maethu Cymru | Foster Wales