Fostering (From Barry And District News)

Fostering

7:30am Thursday 17th January 2013 in Letters

SOME readers may be aware of the chronic shortage we have of foster carers.

There has been a recent drop in those interested in doing it and this is putting more of our vulnerable children at risk. In fact, it means many young children are forced to go into residential care or sent to out-of-county placements away from their friends and families and at a huge cost to the taxpayer. Without your help, many more young people could be forced to go down the same road.

Every year we are told that, although there around 59,000 children living with 45,000 foster families across the UK, there is still a shortfall of around 10,000 foster parents.

Foster carers make an incredible difference to children’s lives. We need foster carers for both short and long-term fostering but a national shortage of foster carers means we are struggling to find enough carers. We desperately need Foster Carers in the Vale of Glamorgan and we can help you if you are interested.

Being a foster carer is one of the most emotionally rewarding things you can do. No other job will love you back in the same way and you can help transform the lives of the most vulnerable children by doing so.

You can make a real difference and if you are interested you can phone the Vale Council on 01446 700111, email them at fostercare@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or call in to the Civic Offices in Barry for further information.

As chair of the Vale’s Social Care Committee I would certainly like to see more people come forward to foster. Fostering a young person is an extremely rewarding experience – so have you got what it takes?

Cllr Richard Bertin Independent Vale of Glamorgan Council