At the last meeting of Wrexham Council’s Executive Board further financial help to support foster carers in Wrexham was agreed.
All approved Wrexham Local Authority Carers will now receive a 100% council tax reduction instead of the previously agreed 75% (this came into effect on July 8, 2025).
Who is eligible for this financial help?
The increase in council tax discount would be available to the below carers approved by Wrexham Council:
- connected (kinship) foster carers
- local authority foster carers
- local authority therapeutic foster carers
- “When I am Ready” foster carers
- special guardianship carers
- supported lodgings hosts
- already approved foster carers working within independent foster agencies (IFAs) who transfer over to Wrexham to become local authority foster carers
Cllr Rob Walsh, Lead Member for Children’s & Family Services, said: “This is massive and positive change for this service and shows the lengths we are going to in order to recruit and retain fostering carers.
“The aim is to increase the number of in-house foster carers. Having more in-house fosters carers also means enhanced matching and, in turn, increased stability for our children. The purpose of this move apart from improving the recruitment of foster carers is also to encourage existing foster carers currently signed up with Independent Fostering Agencies to move to the WCBC Fostering team.
“It is hoped this will also lead to financial savings as it will reduce our reliance on expensive, often out of county independent placements. In addition we have added supported lodgings hosts who have not previously been eligible for the discount.”
As a result our in-house foster carers will now receive 100% discount on their council tax bill. In addition to the council tax discount Wrexham Fostering Service will continue to provide key financial incentives such as enhanced rates of pay for skilled and experienced foster carers as well as those full-time carers caring for children leaving, or at risk of entering, residential care.
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, speak to the Wrexham Fostering Service on 01978 295316 or email fostering@wrexham.gov.uk.
