.
Key Welsh charities launch Charitable Fostering Providers Cymru at National Assembly
• Action for Children, Barnardos Cymru and TACT showcase key role of charities in fostering market
• Lee Waters AM sponsors National Assembly event
Leading charities have joined forces to launch the ‘Charitable Fostering Providers – Cymru’ (CFP) partnership to celebrate the key contribution charities make to the fostering provider sector. CFP Cymru launched at a special event at the Oriel Gallery, National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff Bay on 6th July, sponsored by Lee Waters AM.
The partnership has been established by Action for Children, Barnardo’s Cymru and TACT Cymru who are working together to raise the profile of the charitable fostering sector in Wales.
Matt Lewis, manager at Action for Children’s fostering service in Wales said: ‘By establishing CFP Cymru, we are celebrating what our charities bring to a market place that has a wide range of fostering providers under the ‘Independent Fostering Providers’ (IFP) umbrella.
‘As charities in this partnership, we will be working together to respond to children’s needs and improve outcomes of vulnerable looked after children. We are very proud of what the charity sector brings to the market and thrilled we launched at the National Assembly for Wales with support from prominent figures within Welsh Government and local authorities.’
As sponsor, Lee Waters AM was present at the event with Barnardo’s Cymru’s Jason Baker presenting their powerful animated film of a young person’s story. Matt Lewis from Action for Children and Scott Ruddock from TACT Cymru offered a foster carer’s perspective and outlined their aims for the CFP partnership.
Children’s Commissioner for Wales Sally Holland said: ‘I’m delighted to hear that Barnardo’s Cymru, Action for Children and TACT will be working more closely together, and pleased to note their desire to work in collaboration rather than competition to provide the best provision in foster care.
‘We are entering new territory in Wales with a National Fostering Framework and I know the third sector will work in collaboration with local and national government to develop an enhanced foster care sector in Wales.’
Karen Benjamin, manager of Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru representing 21 of the 22 Welsh local authorities said: ‘The timing of this collaboration is really important in terms of where we’re at with the crisis in capacity in foster care. I do feel they can really make a positive difference in terms of raising awareness, the importance of the role and the positive outcomes they can deliver for children and young people. All three providers work closely with us in terms of our framework development which looks at different models of care.’
She added: ‘Across the three charities there’s a really positive range of specialist services which complement rather than compete against each other and I’m hoping that can fit alongside local authority foster provision so we end up with a really rounded model of services we can offer to meet the needs of young people.’
The event concluded with a young person with experience of the care system giving his perspective, and delegates networked with colleagues, young people and foster carers.
A film of the event can be found here: https://youtu.be/ffjVMYf5A1Q
For more information, please call Alastair Love from Action for Children on 02920 347068/07872 675688 or email Alastair.Love@actionforchildren.org.uk, Margaret O’Reilly from Barnardo’s Cymru on 02920 436229/ 07827 977830 or margaret.oreilly@barnardos.org.uk and Laura Luxton on 0208 695 8133/07793 580 418 or l.luxton@tactcare.org.uk
About Action for Children
How Action for Children works: from before they are born until they are into their twenties, we help disadvantaged children across the UK. We help them through fostering or adoption – and by intervening early to stop neglect and abuse. We make life better for disabled children. We influence policy and advocate for change. Our 7,000 staff and volunteers operate over 600 services, improving the lives of 390,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers every year. We succeed by doing what’s right, doing what’s needed, and doing what works for children.
For more information, visit actionforchildren.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @actnforchildren
About Barnardco’s Cymru
Barnardo’s Cymru works with more than 8,000 young people and families in 94 specialised projects in local communities across Wales. This includes work with children affected by today’s most urgent issues: poverty, homelessness, disability, bereavement and abuse.
Thomas Barnardo’s vision was for no child to be turned away from the help they need. During its 150 year history the charity has helped transform the lives of millions of disadvantaged children in the UK, and continues to help families build better futures. Last year 272,000 children, young people and families were supported by Barnardo’s through more than 1,000 services across the UK, including young carers, care leavers, foster carers and adoptive parents, training and skills and parenting classes. Visit www.barnardos.org.uk to find out more.
About TACT Cymru
TACT (The Adolescent and Children’s Trust) is the UK’s largest fostering and adoption charity and voluntary agency. Established for 24 years, we currently have over 500 foster carers providing loving homes for over 600 children and young people.
As a charity everything we do is for the benefit of children in care and on the fringes of care. We are beyond profit, which means that all surplus income is invested back into our services to ensure our carers and the children in our care receive the best possible support. We also regularly campaign on behalf of vulnerable children, seeking to influence public policy and argue for positive changes
| [donate]
| Help keep news FREE for our readersSupporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism,then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. |