Foster Care Fortnight – Could You Foster?

Staff from Powys County Council’s fostering service will be out and about for the next two weeks as part of this year’s Foster Care Fortnight. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Time to Foster, Time to Care” is the theme of this year’s Foster Care Fortnight which runs between 16 and 27 May. The annual nationwide campaign encourages people to consider fostering and asks them to look at the skills and qualities they have which could make them great Foster Carers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During Foster Care Fortnight, staff and carers can be found at: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

– Tesco, Welshpool – Monday 16 May
– County Hall, Llandrindod Wells – Thursday 19 May
– Tesco, Ystradgynlais – Tuesday 24 May
– Co-op, Machynlleth – Wednesday 25 May
– Tesco, Newtown – Thursday 26 May
– Co-op, Llanidloes – Friday 27 May (morning)
– Co-op, Builth Wells – Friday 27 May (afternoon)
– Royal Welsh Spring Festival – 21 and 22 May ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Graham Brown, Cabinet member responsible for Children’s Services says: “Our fostering service is urgently seeking new Foster Carers for local teenagers, siblings and children with complex medical and physical needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There are many ways to become involved, it’s even possible to foster on a part-time basis. Working as part of a team, you will need to have a spare bedroom, time, energy, stamina and flexibility to provide consistent care to a young person. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Foster carers play a vital role in supporting children in Powys, so if you would like to find out more I’d really encourage you to pop along to one of the events or get in touch with the team for an informal conversation.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carers receive an excellent allowance to cover the cost of caring and in recognition of their skills, there is also regular training and ongoing support from the Fostering Team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To celebrate this year’s Foster Care Fortnight Powys Fostering Service has launched two short films in which local Foster Carers talk about their experiences and encourage others to take up the challenge of fostering in Powys. To view the films visit www.powys.gov.uk/fostering ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​