A Wigan children’s charity welcomes a fostering service into its family, securing a not-for-profit future for the agency in Wales
Wigan-based children’s charity and voluntary adoption agency, Adoption Matters is delighted to announce that 1st Affinity Fostering Service, a well‑established fostering agency based in Gresford, Wrexham, is now proudly part of the charity.
This strategic acquisition ensures a sustainable, not‑for‑profit future for the agency in Wales, as the Welsh Government progresses its commitment to end profit‑making in foster care by 2030.
By becoming part of Adoption Matters, 1st Affinity Fostering Service will continue to deliver high‑quality fostering services whilst they transition to a not-for-profit model, complementing Adoption Matters not‑for‑profit fostering agency, Foster Care Matters.
The agency will continue to operate under the 1st Affinity Fostering Service name, and all services will continue as normal, ensuring continuity for foster families, children, and staff.
Founded in 2013, 1st Affinity Fostering Service began as a locally owned, family-run independent fostering agency dedicated to supporting children and families in the local community. Quickly growing to become a reputable agency, they now support over 100 foster families and over 170 children and young people.
Susy White, Chief Executive of Adoption Matters, said:
“We are thrilled to welcome 1st Affinity Fostering Service into the Adoption Matters charity family. This acquisition reinforces our commitment to ethical, child‑centred fostering and adoption services, and ensures we are well‑positioned to support families and children through the upcoming changes in legislation in Wales. Alongside our established not‑for‑profit fostering service, Foster Care Matters, we look forward to strengthening our shared mission to provide high‑quality, compassionate care for children and young people.”
Claire Grain, Fostering Service Manager of 1st Affinity Fostering Service, added:
“Adoption Matters share our ethos of prioritising the needs of vulnerable children and young people and delivering services with a therapeutic approach. By joining the Adoption Matters family, we can fully embrace this ethos and transition to a not‑for‑profit status.”
Karen Benjamin, Head of Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru (4Cs), welcomed the move, commenting:
“With 1st Affinity Fostering Service well‑established as a key partner across our Consortium and on the All‑Wales Framework for Foster Care, this is a positive development that will future‑proof the agency within the not‑for‑profit landscape. We look forward to continuing our work with both organisations through this transition and beyond, ensuring the needs of children looked after in Wales remain at the centre of everything we do.”