Foster carers from across the county borough have attended an annual awards and celebration event hosted by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Fostering Team.
The event at the St. Paul’s Centre in Port Talbot was held to recognise the incredible work of foster carers who support children and young people in the local area.
Awards were presented for special recognition and to carers who have achieved certain levels of service. Foster carers Ann and David, collected an award for 30 years of service, having cared for a total of 69 children during their time as carers. Gareth and Rosemary, who have been foster carers since 1984 and cared for 84 children, received a special recognition award as they are due to retire this year. In total, over 20 awards were presented.
The event also featured guest speakers who were invited to share their experiences of how they became a foster carer, the challenges they have faced along the way, and some personal anecdotes about how rewarding fostering has been for them. Attendees also had the chance to listen to talks from the Director of AFA (Association of Fostering and Adoption) Cymru and the Director of Fostering Network.
Debbie, a foster carer from Port Talbot who received an award for 5 years of service, said:
“I've had the privilege of working with some wonderful children who have not had the best start in life, and some that have had to deal with things even adults would struggle to deal with.
“I like that I can provide them with a safe home where they feel loved and never get shouted at, where they know there's plenty of food, hot water and clean clothes.”
Councillor Alan Lockyer, cabinet member for children and young people and guest speaker at the event, said:
“Our foster carers do a magnificent job, helping to ensure that every child can be safe, secure and successful, and we are delighted to be able to celebrate them here.
“Foster carers are very special people, and these awards are just our small way of saying thank you.”
If you think you could foster care or would like to find out more information, contact the team on 01639 685866 or visit www.npt.gov.uk/fostering
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Dathlu gwaith caled gofalwyr maeth Castell-nedd Port Talbot mewn seremoni wobrwyo
Roedd gofalwyr maeth o bob cwr o’r fwrdeistref sirol yn bresennol mewn digwyddiad gwobrwyo a dathlu blynyddol a gyflwynwyd gan Dîm Maethu Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot.
Cynhaliwyd y digwyddiad yng Nghanolfan Sant Paul ym Mhort Talbot i gydnabod y gwaith gwych a wnaed gan ofalwyr maeth sy'n cefnogi plant a phobl ifanc yn yr ardal leol.
Cyflwynwyd gwobrau ar gyfer cydnabyddiaeth arbennig ac i ofalwyr sydd wedi cyflawni lefelau penodol o wasanaeth. Casglodd y gofalwyr maeth, Ann a David, wobr ar gyfer 30 mlynedd o wasanaeth ac maent wedi gofalu am 69 o blant yn ystod eu hamser fel gofalwyr. Derbyniodd Gareth a Rosemary, sydd wedi bod yn ofalwyr maeth ers 1984 ac wedi gofalu am 84 o blant yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, wobr cydnabyddiaeth arbennig gan y disgwylir iddynt ymddeol eleni. Cyflwynwyd dros 20 o wobrau i gyd.
Roedd y digwyddiad hefyd yn cynnwys siaradwyr gwadd a wahoddwyd i rannu eu profiadau o sut daethant i fod yn ofalwyr maeth, yr heriau maent wedi'u hwynebu ar hyd y daith a rhai hanesion personol am ba mor werthfawr mae maethu wedi bod iddynt. Cafodd y rhai a oedd yn bresennol hefyd gyfle i wrando ar sgyrsiau gan Gyfarwyddwr AFA (Cymdeithas Maethu a Mabwysiadu) Cymru a Chyfarwyddwr y Rhwydwaith Maethu.
Meddai Debbie, gofalwr maeth o Bort Talbot a dderbyniodd wobr am 5 mlynedd o wasanaeth,
"Rwyf wedi cael y fraint o weithio gyda rhai plant gwych nad ydynt wedi cael y dechrau gorau mewn bywyd ac mae rhai ohonynt wedi gorfod ymdrin â phethau byddai oedolion yn cael trafferth ymdrin â hwy.
"Rwy'n hoffi'r ffaith fy mod yn gallu darparu cartref diogel iddynt lle maent yn teimlo'u bod yn cael eu caru ac ni fydd neb yn gweiddi arnynt a lle maent yn gwybod bod digon o fwyd, dwr poeth a dillad glân."
Meddai'r Cynghorydd Alan Lockyer, Aelod y Cabinet dros Blant a Phobl Ifanc a siaradwr gwadd yn y digwyddiad,
"Mae ein gofalwyr maeth yn gwneud gwaith penigamp, gan helpu i sicrhau y gall pob plentyn fod yn ddiogel ac yn llwyddiannus, ac rydym wrth ein boddau i allu eu cydnabod yma.
"Mae gofalwyr maeth yn bobl arbennig iawn ac mae'r gwobrau hyn yn ffordd i ni ddweud diolch."
Os ydych yn meddwl y gallech faethu neu os hoffech gael mwy o wybodaeth, ffoniwch y tîm ar 01639 685866 neu ewch i www.npt.gov.uk/fostering.
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