Advertorial feature for Wakefield Fostering
Hi my name is Zack.
I am 14 years old and have been in care for the last 7 years. I’m currently living in a residential home, that keeps me safe but I desperately want to live with a family again. I enjoy playing with toys, especially my Lego, as well as bouncing on my trampoline. Where I live at the moment the residential workers give me lots of 1-to-1 attention and support me with day to day tasks – this would need to continue in my foster home.
I have autism and benefit the most from routines as I like to know what we’re doing next. I struggle with verbal communication but I’m able to let you know what I want, like or dislike through non-verbal cues and behaviours. I understand speech and my communication skills have improved this year in particular my use of sign language. I’ve also worked very hard on my writing skills too and I’m working towards writing my own name by myself – everyone says I’m progressing well and that makes me feel proud.
The time living within the residential home has given me stability and consistency when I needed it the most but it’s just not the same as being somewhere I can call ‘home’. My ideal forever home would be with 2 carers so the stability and consistency could continue but also provide the love and affection that has been absent through most of my life.
If you have experience of caring for children with additional needs, are willing to learn new skills and feel you can offer a Zack a long term placement within your family please contact the Fostering Team on 01924 302160 or through our website www.wakefield.gov.uk/fostering (please quote ‘ZACK’ on the enquiry form).
