Waterford foster families help create world's largest ever sand message

Tusla foster families from Waterford and Wexford came together at the weekend to create the world's largest ever sand message, 'You CAN foster' - at Duncannon Beach.

Created with rakes in the sand over several hours, the message, which measured 6,132sq metres – an area of 1.52 acres - was undertaken to remind local communities of the ongoing need for foster carers in Waterford and Wexford, and how rewarding it is to foster a child.

Ireland is among the world leaders in foster care, and across Ireland, 3,817 foster carers currently open their homes to 5,021 children, including 359 children in Waterford and Wexford who are cared for by 315 foster carers in the region.

Tusla foster carers are an essential component of Tusla’s alternative care system, with 88.4 per cent of children in care living in a foster placement.

The foster families chose the message 'You CAN foster', on the back of Tusla’s own research which showed people often rule themselves out of fostering because they think they are not eligible when, in fact, they could. 

Tusla Fostering welcomes applications from single carers, members of the LGBTQAI+ community, families with and without children, Travellers, non-Irish nationalities, people from different faiths and beliefs, people who have a disability, jobseekers, renters, single people, people who are over 50 years old, couples who work fulltime, and rural as well as urban dwellers.

“People often believe that fostering is something that is outside their range of skills when, in fact, what foster children need most are homes that are stable and filled with kindness and love,” said Jacqueline Smyth, Tusla National Lead for Foster Care.

There is a continuous demand for foster carers for children of all ages, particularly in Wexford and Waterford.

“When a child enters care and goes to live in a foster family, that family will usually not foster again for a certain length of time," said Ms Smyth.

"This means that their home is no longer available to the next child who comes into foster care," she added. "Most carers will foster a maximum of two children at any one time and, each year, hundreds of children will need a foster home so, even as foster carers are recruited, they are continually required."

“We are asking people in Waterford and Wexford to consider providing all types of foster care," she said. "It could be respite care on weekends, a short-term emergency placement, or a longer-term placement for children and young people who cannot, for various reasons, live with their birth families."

Visual Artist Sean Concannon worked alongside the families in creating what he believes is the largest message written in sand. For information on fostering and becoming a foster carer, visit www.fostering.ie.