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

Could you foster a Carmarthenshire child? If so, your county needs you. Carmarthenshire Fostering Service has an ongoing quest to recruit extra foster families for a growing number of children and young people. More foster families are needed to provide loving homes especially for teenagers, children with disabilities and sibling groups. There are more than 200 children from new born to 18-year-olds being fostered throughout the county, and new children for a variety of reasons are in need of foster families. The shortage of suitable Carmarthenshire families to provide them with a loving home at this turbulent time in their lives means some children can be placed far from their families, friends and school. This situation can lead to children detrimentally being placed separately from brothers and sisters and far from their natural home. Carmarthenshire’s fostering service assistant team manager for recruitment, assessment and short breaks, Sue John Evans said: “We desperately need...

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...

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...