Drive to recruit foster carers

The ‘CARE for Coffee?’ event, supported by Allied Bakeries, will be held in 15 local venues across Northern Ireland on Wednesday, May 18 from 10am - 12 noon.

People interested in fostering are being invited to drop in and chat to fostering staff and existing foster carers.

If you think you could make a positive difference to a child’s life, drop into a local coffee morning near you between 10am and noon at: Clooney Hall Centre, 36 Clooney Terrace, Waterside, Londonderry or Omagh Community House, 2 Drumragh Ave, Omagh.

Alternatively, call 0800 0720 137 (24/7 service), Western Trust Londonderry Office Tel: (028) 7131 4244 or Western Trust Omagh Office Tel: (028) 8283 5264 or visit www.fostering.hscni.net for more information.

Pat Armstrong, Western Trust Head of Fostering said: “There are no special qualifications necessary to be a foster carer, the only qualification needed relates to providing parental love and care for children who are in need.

“I would urge anyone who feels they can be an inspiration to children and young people and provide a stable, safe and loving home to come forward.”

There are currently 11 children waiting for a long term home in the Western Trust area, children like Mark (7) and Clare (5). Mark and Clare are a sibling group that have been in foster care for the past year.

They currently reside with short-term foster carers and both have made steady progress within this home. However a long- term foster home is now being sought for Mark and Clare that enables them to stay together.

Both children therefore need a foster family where they can continue to thrive and feel safe, loved, secure, supported and are committed to meeting their needs into adulthood and beyond should they not return to the care of their birth family.

For more information about Fostering please contact Dympna Brogan, Recruitment Team Manager, Tel: (028) 7131 4244 or (028) 8283 5624 or email [email protected] or visit www.fostering.hscni.net for more information. children await a long term foster home in the Western Trust including brother and sister Mark (7) and Clare (5) with the local authority hosting a coffee morning this Foster Care Fortnight in a bid to recruit more carers.

The ‘CARE for Coffee?’ event, supported by Allied Bakeries, will be held in 15 local venues across Northern Ireland on Wednesday, May 18 from 10am - 12 noon.

People interested in fostering are being invited to drop in and chat to fostering staff and existing foster carers.

If you think you could make a positive difference to a child’s life, drop into a local coffee morning near you between 10am and noon at: Clooney Hall Centre, 36 Clooney Terrace, Waterside, Londonderry or Omagh Community House, 2 Drumragh Ave, Omagh.

Alternatively, call 0800 0720 137 (24/7 service), Western Trust Londonderry Office Tel: (028) 7131 4244 or Western Trust Omagh Office Tel: (028) 8283 5264 or visit www.fostering.hscni.net for more information.

Pat Armstrong, Western Trust Head of Fostering said: “There are no special qualifications necessary to be a foster carer, the only qualification needed relates to providing parental love and care for children who are in need.

“I would urge anyone who feels they can be an inspiration to children and young people and provide a stable, safe and loving home to come forward.”

There are currently 11 children waiting for a long term home in the Western Trust area, children like Mark (7) and Clare (5). Mark and Clare are a sibling group that have been in foster care for the past year.

They currently reside with short-term foster carers and both have made steady progress within this home. However a long- term foster home is now being sought for Mark and Clare that enables them to stay together.

Both children therefore need a foster family where they can continue to thrive and feel safe, loved, secure, supported and are committed to meeting their needs into adulthood and beyond should they not return to the care of their birth family.

For more information about Fostering please contact Dympna Brogan, Recruitment Team Manager, Tel: (028) 7131 4244 or (028) 8283 5624 or email [email protected] or visit www.fostering.hscni.net for more information.