Families Join Together To Kick-Start Foster Fortnight

Over seventy people attended an organised walk last Sunday to kick-start a range of events for Fostering Fortnight. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Organised by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Fostering Team, walkers at the annual event included families, a selection of Aberavon Wizards rugby players and the team’s 7ft orange mascot, Ziggy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Being held at Margam Park, the walk was also a chance for families to network with each other while taking in the surroundings of the 850 acre park. After the walk families listened to live music from X-Factor contestant John Adams, took part in a tag rugby session arranged by the Aberavon Wizards and had their photo taken with Ziggy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The walk aims to raise awareness for the need for more foster carers whilst also celebrating the incredible role of carers. It was one of five events across the UK which are organised in celebration of the 2016 Foster Care Fortnight campaign. The events raise much needed funds for the Fostering Network, a registered charity that works for fostered children and young people, fostering families and the services that support them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I was delighted to see so many people turn out to support this event. The walk was an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of fostering, foster carers and the excellent service that they provide. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to congratulate everyone who took part in the walk and the Fostering Team for their hard work in organising such a successful event.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council welcomes enquiries from anyone who is interested in becoming a foster carer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​