Fostering Fortnight

The Fostering and Short Breaks team at Carmarthenshire County Council has been busy promoting Fostering Fortnight (May 12-25).

Members of the team have been out and about across the county raising awareness of the need for more foster carers.

The council offers many different types of fostering services, including short and long term arrangements, short breaks for children with disabilities, mother and baby fostering, fostering of teenagers and respite provision.

Fostering Fortnight has given the team an opportunity to give people information about what fostering entails, and what foster carers do, as well as giving foster carers an opportunity to speak about their experiences.

Avril Rees, a short breaks carer, said: “We see ourselves as an extended family to the child’s own, offering a happy place for them to stay and enjoy. They bring joy to us too and although the sessions can be exhausting at times it’s well worth it.”

Foster carers and short breaks carers offer stability and much needed support to a child or young person in need whilst providing a caring and loving home.

Every 22 minutes a child comes into care in need of a foster family. It is estimated that a further 8,600 foster carers are needed this year alone to provide a supportive, stable and caring home for these vulnerable children.

Cllr Keith Davies, Executive Board Member for Children’s Services, said: “Fostering is not easy – you need to have the energy, patience and dedication to care. But it gives you the opportunity to make a huge difference to children’s lives.”

Anyone interested in fostering should call 0800 09833 699.