- 28/11/2012
- Posted by: David Rees MS
- Category: News
Aberavon AM, David Rees, joined in the celebrations this week in recognition of the 10th anniversary of Wales’s leading fostering charity, the Fostering Network Wales.
David Rees, along with other Assembly Members, signed a giant birthday card at the Senedd on Tuesday 27 November to congratulate the charity on its achievements over the past 10 years.
Since it was established in 2002, the Fostering Network Wales has been at the forefront of campaigning for improvements in the care system in Wales and provided foster families, fostering services and children in care with the vital help and support they need.
Nine out of 10 children in care in Wales are fostered and on any one day there are 4,310 children living with around 3,000 foster families throughout the country. The Fostering Network estimates that a further 550 foster families are needed to ensure all these children can be found the right home.
David Rees AM said:
“Fostering can enrich the lives of both the children in care and the family which takes them into their home. I have nothing but admiration for the foster families in Aberavon who provide some of the most vulnerable children in our community with a safe, stable and loving home environment.”
“I would like to congratulate the Fostering Network Wales on what it has achieved over the last 10 years and the difference its work has made to the lives of thousands of foster families and children in care. I wish them every success and hope that, over the coming years, they go onto to help many more people.”
Freda Lewis, director of the Fostering Network Wales, said:
“We are delighted to be celebrating our 10th anniversary and I am very proud of what we have achieved to improve the lives of fostered children in Wales and the foster families that care for them.
“It has been an exciting and challenging time for fostering in Wales. I am pleased that through our work with our fostering service and foster carer members we have been able to make foster care better. We look forward to continuing this progress over the next 10 years and beyond.”
On Thursday 6 December there will be a special celebration event at the Cardiff City Stadium to formally mark the 10th anniversary. At the event the Fostering Network Wales will launch a new report reviewing how fostering has developed over the last 10 years and what needs to change in the future to ensure the system can best meet the needs of children in care.
