Foster Pembrokeshire

Local Area: Pembrokeshire

20 Reasons to Foster in 2020

The Fostering Network has estimated that 550 foster families will be needed in Wales to keep up with the widespread demand.

To combat this, on 1 January 2020 Pembrokeshire County Council has launched, #20 Reasons, a campaign to encourage people within their local area to consider fostering.

Pembrokeshire County Council is one of nine local authorities who have joined forces to create #20Reasons. The campaign uses real foster carers and their motives for fostering to inform and inspire more families to consider looking after a child or young person.

The 20 reasons to foster range from making a difference to a child’s life by giving them a sense of love, belonging and security; to being part of building a positive future and; helping to keep a child in their local area so they can stay in school and near their friends.

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Of all the places I have been this is where I have felt the most at home, that this was my home.Young Person

Welcome to Pembrokeshire Fostering

Pembrokeshire Fostering wish to recruit Foster Carers who are caring, resilient, committed, responsive and motivated, with a spare bedroom. Are you up for the challenge? If so please contact:

Pembrokeshire Fostering,
Family Placement Team,
Customer Service Centre,
Argyle Street, Pembroke Dock SA72 6HL.

Telephone: 01437 774650
Email: fostering@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pembsfostering

Pembrokeshire Foster Bear Mascot

Launch of the Post Approval Learning and Development Framework
Pembrokeshire Family Placement Team recently launched the Post Approval Learning and Development Framework for Foster Carers at their Christmas Craft Coffee Morning held on Wednesday 20th November. This initiative is one of the National Fostering Frame work’s (NFF) work streams which aims to provide a basis for a national approach to delivering learning and development for foster carers across Wales.

Foster event on beach
Make a difference, change lives and be at the heart of fostering in Pembrokeshire
Foster event art work
Fostering changes lives, help us change the future of our children and young people
'It’s definitely changed our lives for the better'
“Foster children are not different from your own children. They maybe just haven’t had the start in life that other children have. But it is our job to give them that life that every child deserves,” says Natalie, a foster parent for the past 13 years.

Natalie and her husband Colin fostered their first child when they were in their mid-twenties. Since then, they have fostered another twenty children, between the ages of 0 and 18. Most have been long-term placements, with the longest being eight years. The couple also have a daughter and two sons of their own, aged fifteen, nine and eight.

The couple, who live in Rosemarket, say that starting fostering at a young age, and bringing up their own children with their foster children, has been a definite plus for them.

“It’s easy. You find the time to look after your own children. It’s exactly the same,” said Natalie. “We treat all our children equally, and the rules are the same for everyone. It’s really important, so that nobody feels any different.”

“All of our friends and family know all our children and treat them all the same,” added Colin, a trained paramedic. “Lots of them come back at Christmas and you can’t move for presents! It’s like one big happy family.”

Many of the children which the couple have welcomed into their home have been teenagers, and Natalie says they are actually much easier to foster than some people think.

“In the beginning, they can be hard and will push their boundaries, but if you connect with them, they are away and independent. It’s all about respecting one another,” she said.

“Trust is a big thing. You have got to build up trust; that you are not going to treat them differently or harm them. Nine times out of ten they are just normal children who need to be shown attention, want to be loved, and need some boundaries.”

The couple foster through Pembrokeshire County Council. ‘We have had fantastic support from the Council,” said Colin. “Any time we have asked for help or needed something, we have had it. The relationship and support we have got is brilliant. It helps knowing that you have got the backing from the team.”

Both are passionate about the huge benefits which fostering can bring to any household, and they urge anyone who thinks that fostering might be for them to give it a go.

“As long as you have got empathy and care about others, and have understanding of how people want to be treated, and respected, it’s well worth it,” said Natalie.

“All the good times outweigh by far the rocky patches in the beginning. If anybody thinks it might be for them, they should give it a try at least. It’s definitely changed our lives for the better.” Said Colin; “You can give a child that environment to flourish and turn their whole life around. Some of the children we have fostered have felt they are worthless. So to see a child grow in confidence, totally change, and do well at school or go on the straight and narrow is fantastic.

“We’ve helped to turn them around, make something of their lives, to get an education, to get a job. “I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Contact Foster Pembrokeshire

Supported Lodgings Scheme

The Supported Lodgings Scheme in Pembrokeshire aims to bridge the gap to independent living for young people leaving foster care. The scheme aims to give young people the chance to develop the practical skills and emotional stability they will need to make the transition into adulthood, and to make a success of living independently.

The Supported Lodgings Scheme in Pembrokeshire

Latest News and Events in Pembrokeshire:

20 Reasons to Foster in 2020 – Pembrokeshire

Posted: January 1, 2020

550 more foster carers needed across Wales in 2020 The Fostering Network has estimated that 550 foster families will be needed in Wales to keep up with the widespread demand. To combat this, on 1 January 2020 Pembrokeshire County Council has launched, #20 Reasons, a campaign to encourage people within their local area to consider fostering. […]

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aunch of the Post Approval Learning and Development Framework

Launch of the Post Approval Learning and Development Framework

Posted: November 29, 2019

One of the National Fostering Framework’s (NFF) work-streams has been the development of the Learning and Development Framework for Foster Carers.  The Fostering Network and AFA Cymru led on the development of a Learning and Development Framework.  There was extensive consultation with foster carers and staff across Wales which made a significant contribution to the […]

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Regional Foster launch with cake

Working together to improve the future of children in foster care

Posted: July 3, 2019

IMPROVING the future of children and young people in foster care is at the heart of a new regional partnership. Fostering services from the four local authorities of Carmarthenshire, Powys, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire have come together to form Foster Mid and West Wales. The aim is to work together with local children to create a […]

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Information Evenings in Pembrokeshire

Posted: May 14, 2019

Have you considered a career as a Foster Carer or Supported Lodgings Provider? Come along and find out more at our Information Evenings:

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#changeafuture

Foster Care Fortnight 2019: 13th to 26th May

Posted: May 13, 2019

It’s an annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering and to show how foster care transforms lives.  To launch the start of Fostering Fortnight the Foster Mid and West Wales team were at Dinefwr Park, Llandeilo from 11-3pm on Saturday 11thMay. #changeafuture Remember that you can meet some of our fostering team at the HWB’s in Carmarthenshire […]

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Father with girls painting

Men who foster

Posted: April 15, 2019

The role of a foster carer can be both extremely rewarding and at the same time emotionally strenuous, requiring resilience and an ability to build on training and experience while working as part of a team. For many children in care living with a male foster carer may be their first positive experience of a […]

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Baby holding hands

Ella and Rhys

Posted: March 7, 2019

Well it’s been 11 years since we started fostering, I can’t believe it. I always wanted to foster but it took a few years to persuade Rhys. All our children were grown up and I suppose it was a bit like empty nest syndrome. We chose fostering because we wanted to make a difference in […]

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Cafe Rio Fostering Evening

Cafe Rio Fostering Evening

Posted: March 5, 2019

Pembrokeshire Fostering Service are holding an information evening on March 13th at Cafe Rio, Quay Street, Haverfordwest from 5 – 7.30pm. If you know someone who might be interested bring them along. It’s an informal event and an opportunity for interested people to meet foster carers and staff and chat over a tea/coffee.

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‘It’s definitely changed our lives for the better’

Posted: February 4, 2019

“Foster children are not different from your own children. They maybe just haven’t had the start in life that other children have. But it is our job to give them that life that every child deserves,” says Natalie, a foster parent for the past 13 years. Natalie and her husband Colin fostered their first child when […]

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farmers who foster

Farmers who foster

Posted: January 31, 2019

Farmers who foster – a case of transferable skills On every sheep farm, there will be times when a lamb needs to be fostered by an ewe that is not its mother, a situation that mostly has a positive outcome. Allison Silk uses this analogy to illustrate some of the similarities between her work as […]

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