A foster carers recruitment campaign is being launched in Swansea aimed at helping looked-after children get ahead in life.
Foster Swansea is launching a new recruitment campaign this month which asks people to, ‘Make a World of Difference and Foster’.
Its launch comes in the wake of a 39% rise in the population of looked-after children in Swansea in the past year.
The campaign by Foster Swansea, which is Swansea Council’s fostering service, aims to help people in Swansea discover if they could foster and make a real difference to children’s lives.
Kelly Harsant, Business Development Officer for Foster Swansea, is heading the campaign.
She said: “We want to encourage people who may be interested in fostering to contact us and take the next step.
“When you speak to Foster Carers you quickly develop a picture of the challenges of this unique career. All of them comment on the rewards and satisfaction you get from making a real difference to children’s lives.
“Foster Swansea is looking for all different types of people who can offer different types of care for different age ranges.
“Fostering is unique because it allows you flexibility and room to develop your own skills and it can become a way of life that’s rewarding, enjoyable and challenging.
“While fostering can sometimes be very challenging, you are supported by Foster Swansea at every stage. Support comes in the form of financial support, training and support from an experienced Foster Swansea team.”
Backed with road shows, posters, adverts and a new-look website the fostering campaign will highlight the many different ways to foster and the many different families needed to help a child in need.
There are approximately 1,900 foster families across Wales and around 170 foster families in Swansea but the Fostering Network estimates there’s still a shortage of at least 750 foster carers across Wales.
Foster care is widely recognised as the the best place for most children who need to be looked after by Social Services because of family circumstances or what is happening in their own lives.
Swansea Council’s Child and Family Services is investing in the recruitment, retention and training of its fostering services.
This investment aims is to ensure the rising number of children who come into care are found stable and nurturing family environments to help them face their futures positively.
The campaign was officially launched on Tuesday May 4 and events will take place throughout the month. These include a Make a Difference and Foster information trailer located outside Marks and Spencer in Swansea City Centre from May 4 to May 8 complete with expert Foster Swansea workers on hand to answer questions and offer advice.
Anyone interested in fostering is encouraged to contact Foster Swansea by calling 01792 533200.
