Foster Carers Retire After 40 Years Of Service

​A couple from Borth have recently retired after 20 years of Fostering for Ceredigion County Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pat and Tony New moved to Borth from Wolverhampton in 1994 where they had also been foster carers for over 20 years, and where Tony sat on the Local Fostering Panel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In 1995 Pat and Tony applied to be foster carers with Ceredigion County Council and went through the assessment and approval process. They became qualified in 1996 and were again approved as foster carers for children in Ceredigion, who for many reasons, cannot be cared for at home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Julie Murphy, Acting Team Manager of the Family Placement Service said: “During their 20 years of fostering with the Council over 50 children have been placed with Pat and Tony covering all age ranges from new born to 17 year olds, and including a mother and baby placement. They have provided first class care and support over the years and are so obviously passionate about what they do. We are very grateful to them for their help and support and wish the all the best during their retirement.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pat New said: “It has been an interesting 20 years and we will miss the uncertainty of never knowing who is going to turn up at our door and when. We have enjoyed the challenges of dealing with complex issues and will miss fostering being part of our lives”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To celebrate their retirement a presentation was made to the couple at the Central Carers Team meeting held in Aberaeron on Monday, 11 April by Pam Green who had been Manager of Ceredigion County Council Family Placement Service until her retirement in 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​