Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A special family fun day event is being held in Llanelly House this half-term to promote fostering opportunities in Carmarthenshire. The informal information event, run by Carmarthenshire County Council’s fostering service, in conjunction with Llanelly House and supported by Llanelli Library, is being held at the town centre-based Victorian house on Thursday, February 23, between 10.30am-2.30pm. During the event you will have a chance to meet some members of the council’s dedicated fostering team to find out more details about the various fostering opportunities available within Carmarthenshire, including what support is available should you wish to find out more. You can chat with current foster carers who will be happy to share their experiences of fostering locally with you and how they have helped transform children’s lives for the better. The new fostering website will be on show as well as the chance to view three, minute-long video case studies, featuring child actors but base...

More than a hundred foster children and their carers have created their own 'crowd of golden daffodils' at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne. A daffodil bulb has been planted for each of the foster children in the county. There are more than 200. The Botanic Gardens designated a special grassy area on one of their main walks in which a daffodil bulb was planted. The children joined with staff digging, planting and stamping down the clods of grass over their buried treasure of bulbs. They can’t wait to see the results of their labours in the spring. Carmarthenshire County Council's executive board member for education children’s services Cllr Gareth Jones, enjoying the Botanical fun day with his wife Meinir, said: “It’s encouraging to see one of the county’s major year round attractions, the Botanical Gardens, supporting our hard working fostering team and see everyone having so much fun. It was a really valuable exercise to boost the recruitment of foster c...

More than 50 foster carers and their families enjoyed a sunny family fun day at Pembrey Country Park. The event was organised by Carmarthenshire County Council’s fostering service and was supported by Tesco and Morrisons who provided refreshments. The children, from all over the county, enjoyed free archery, arts and crafts sessions with Splat Cymru and miniature train rides and sports activities with the Actif team as well as toboggan rides throughout the day. Face painting was provided by members of the fostering service. Executive board member for children’s services, Cllr Gareth Jones, said: “The foster team work hard to provide activities and outing for their carers and their charges and it is great to see they can use the council’s parks and attractions. “Foster is a rewarding careers in so many ways for those who have room in their home and lives to give youngsters love, care and an opportunity to improve their life chances. “The authority is always looking for foster carers t...

Fostering Fortnight is underway and Carmarthenshire County Council’s Fostering Recruitment Team is out in force at various locations across the county up until Thursday, May 22, between 10am till 2pm. On Thursday, May 15, the team will set up stall at The Co-Op, Cross Hands; on Friday, May 16, they will visit Llandeilo market; on Wednesday, May 21,they will visit Carmarthen market, and their final stop will be on Thursday, May 22, when they will visit Tesco in Llanelli. The Fostering Fortnight campaign is a national event to raise awareness of the opportunities available within the foster care service. Here in Carmarthenshire there is particular need for children aged 10 and over, although there are opportunities in other areas, including within the local authority’s parent and baby scheme. Fostering Recruitment Team Manager, Jackie Sloane, said: “Many people have pre-conceived ideas about fostering – but these days you don’t have to be married or have children of your own to be able...

People across Carmarthenshire are being encouraged to consider if they have got what it takes to be a foster carer. Throughout Fostering Fortnight (May 16-29), Carmarthenshire County Council’s Fostering Recruitment Team will be out in force advising the public about the range of fostering opportunities available. In Carmarthenshire, there is particular need for foster carers for children aged 10 and over – particularly in the Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli areas. Foster carers are also needed for the council’s Parent and Baby support scheme. The team will be asking people to consider fostering, and helping to dispel common myths about fostering - for instance, you don’t have to be married, or have children of your own. Jackie Sloane, Fostering Recruitment Team Manager, said: “Many people have pre-conceived ideas about fostering – but there is no fixed set of qualifications for the ideal foster family – all we ask is for people to provide a loving and stable environment, and we will...

Parents across Carmarthenshire are being encouraged to get clued up on the laws surrounding private fostering arrangements. Throughout this week – Monday, March 21, to Sunday, March 27 - Carmarthenshire County Council’s fostering teams are helping parents to understand the rules around private foster care, and the arrangements they have to put in place to ensure the safety of their children. A Private Fostering Arrangement is when a young person aged under 16, or 18 if they are disabled, is placed in the care of another adult who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. A close relative is an aunt, uncle, step-parent, grandparent or sibling, but not a cousin, grand aunt or uncle, or a family friend. If such an arrangement is put in place, the parent has a legal obligation to inform the local authority at least six weeks before it is due to start. Jackie Sloane, Carmarthenshire’s fostering recruitment team manager, said: “Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their child is i...

Carmarthenshire will be taking part in a national awareness week to increase parents’ knowledge of the laws surrounding private fostering arrangements. Throughout the week (March 21-27, 2011), Carmarthenshire County Council’s fostering teams will be speaking to parents to explain the rules around private foster care, and the arrangements they have to put in place to ensure the safety of their children. A Private Fostering Arrangement is when a young person aged under 16, or 18 if they are disabled, is placed in the care of another adult who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. A close relative is an aunt, uncle, step-parent, grandparent or sibling, but not a cousin, grand aunt or uncle, or a family friend. If such an arrangement is put in place, the parent has a legal obligation to inform the local authority at least six weeks before it is due to start. Jackie Sloane, Carmarthenshire’s fostering recruitment team manager, said: “Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their...

The Scarlets have presented Carmarthenshire’s Fostering Recruitment Team with 10 free places on their summer rugby camp. The places will be taken by three lucky foster children who are placed in the county with local authority-approved carers. The free camp places were presented at the launch of Fostering Fortnight on Monday, May 17. The two-week campaign will see recruitment teams touring the county with information stands, handing out leaflets and inviting people to consider becoming foster parents. Part of the publicity campaign for the fortnight is the sponsorship of the Scarlets Summer Camp which will take place at Parc Y Scarlets in August. Jackie Sloane, Fostering Recruitment Team Manager, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Scarlets to give more exposure to the fostering opportunities here in Carmarthenshire. “We are very grateful that as part of that the Scarlets have offered us these free places on their summer camp, which I’m sure will be enjoyed.” Scarlets Commer...

Carmarthenshire is taking part in a national awareness week to increase parents’ knowledge of the laws surrounding private fostering arrangements. Throughout this week, Carmarthenshire County Council’s fostering teams will be speaking to parents to explain the rules around private foster care, and the arrangements they have to put in place to ensure the safety of their children. A Private Fostering Arrangement is when a young person aged under 16, or 18 if they are disabled, is placed in the care of another adult who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. A close relative is an aunt, uncle, step-parent, grandparent or sibling, but not a cousin, grand aunt or uncle, or a family friend. If such an arrangement is put in place, the parent has a legal obligation to inform the local authority at least six weeks before it is due to start. Jackie Sloane, Carmarthenshire’s fostering recruitment team manager, said: “Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their child is in a suitable ...