Neath Port Talbot Council’s Fostering Team will be hosting a number of information points over the next two weeks to appeal to people in the county borough to support children who need a home.
With more than 300 children currently being looked after by foster carers in Neath Port Talbot, the Council’s Fostering Team are seeking to recruit more carers during 2018.
The appeal for more carers coincides with Foster Care Fortnight, The Fostering Network's annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering. The overarching message for this year’s campaign is how 'foster care transforms lives'.
Debbie, a local foster carer in Neath Port Talbot is helping the Team to promote the campaign. Talking about why people should consider foster caring, Debbie said:
“I’ve been asked many times ‘what’s the best thing about fostering?’.
“I always say, ‘to be able to make a change, no matter how big or small to a child’s life. To see a child develop from not knowing how to smile or laugh, to hearing them sing as they get dressed for school. To be part of the team that allows them to be a child and to develop skills and memories that will stay with them throughout their life’.”
In support of the campaign which runs from May 14 to May 27, the Team will be holding information points at the following venues:
Neath Square, Neath, 10am to 4pm, Wednesday 16th May 2018
Aberavon Shopping Centre, Port Talbot, 10am to 4pm, Friday 18th May 2018
St Paul’s Centre, Port Talbot, 10am to 4pm, Wednesday 23rd May
Councillor Alan Lockyer, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services said:
“We are passionate about the difference that foster care makes to the lives of fostered children and young people, and Foster Care Fortnight is an excellent opportunity to showcase that difference.
“We are always looking for new carers who have the desire to provide a secure and welcoming home for vulnerable children. This could include people from a wide range of backgrounds and family make-up such as people who are single, families with children or same sex couples.
“I would encourage anyone who is interested about foster care to come along to one of our information points and speak to the team.”
To find out more, visit www.npt.gov.uk/fostering or telephone 01639 685866.
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Bydd Tîm Maethu Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn cynnal nifer o bwyntiau gwybodaeth dros y pythefnos nesaf er mwyn apelio i bobl yn y fwrdeistref sirol gefnogi plant y mae angen cartref arnynt.
Gyda mwy na 300 o blant yn derbyn gofal ar hyn o bryd gan ofalwyr maeth yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, mae Tîm Maethu'r cyngor yn ceisio recriwtio mwy o ofalwyr yn ystod 2018.
Mae'r apêl am fwy o ofalwyr yn cyd-fynd â Phythefnos Gofal Maeth, ymgyrch flynyddol y Rhwydwaith Maethu i gynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o faethu. Y neges drosgynnol ar gyfer yr ymgyrch eleni yw 'mae maethu'n trawsnewid bywydau'.
Debbie, Gofalwr Maeth o Gastell-nedd Port Talbot:
• Sgwâr Castell-nedd, Castell-nedd, 10am hyd at 4pm, Dydd Mercher 16 Mai 2018
• Canolfan Siopa Aberafan, Port Talbot, 10am hyd at 4pm, Dydd Gwener 18 Mai 2018
• Canolfan St Paul, Port Talbot, 10am hyd at 4pm, Dydd Mercher 23 Mai 2018
Mae pobl wedi gofyn i fi sawl gwaith” ‘Beth yw’r peth gorau am faethu?’
“Dw i wastad yn dweud, ‘i fod â’r gallu i wneud newid, dim ots pa mor fawr neu fach i fywyd plentyn. I weld plentyn yn datblygu o ddim yn gwybod sut mae gwenu neu chwerthin, i wrando arnyn nhw’n canu wrth iddyn nhw wisgo ar gyfer yr ysgol. I fod yn rhan o’r tîm sy’n caniatáu iddyn nhw fod yn blentyn ac i ddatblygu sgiliau a chofion a fydd yn para gyda nhw am weddill eu hoes’”
I gefnogi'r ymgyrch a gynhelir o 14 Mai tan 27 Mai, bydd y tîm yn cynnal pwyntiau gwybodaeth yn y lleoliadau canlynol:
Meddai'r Cynghorydd Alan Lockyer, Aelod y Cabinet dros y Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i Blant,
"Rydym yn frwd am y gwahaniaeth mae gofal maeth yn ei wneud i fywydau plant a phobl ifanc sy'n cael eu maethu, ac mae Pythefnos Gofal Maeth yn gyfle gwych i ddangos y gwahaniaeth hwnnw.
"Rydym bob amser yn chwilio am ofalwyr newydd sydd am ddarparu cartref diogel a chroesawgar i blant diamddiffyn. Gallai hyn gynnwys pobl o ystod eang o gefndiroedd a theuluoedd, megis pobl sengl, teuluoedd â phlant neu barau o'r un rhyw.
"Byddwn yn annog unrhyw un sydd â diddordeb mewn gofal maeth i ddod i un o'n pwyntiau gwybodaeth a siarad â'r tîm."
Am fwy o wybodaeth, ewch i www.npt.gov.uk/fostering neu ffoniwch 01639 685866.
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