Released On 13th Jan 2017
1st birthday party for Somerset Foster Carers
A voluntary organisation set up to give Somerset County Council Foster Carers a stronger voice has celebrated its first birthday.
The Somerset Foster Care Association (SFCA) is run by carers and is working towards giving them greater influence over and input into the services that support them. It gives carers regular opportunities to come together to share ideas and network through its coffee mornings and monthly meetings.
Foster carers, fostered children and birth families came together on Sunday 18 September at the Edgar Hall in Somerton for a colourful fete-style celebration.
Trudy Patch, Chair of the SFCA, said: “It’s been fantastic to welcome so many of our Foster Carers and their families for our 1st birthday celebration – a really enjoyable event. The SFCA has the potential to be a brilliant resource for all Foster Carers in Somerset, and we have had a very positive first year.
“However we obviously want to see our association grow and strengthen in the second, and we need our Foster Carers’ input and energy to do this. If you have time to give, or simply want to be kept in the SFCA loop, we’d love to hear from you, so please get in touch.”
Cllr John Osman, Leader of Somerset County Council, said: “I’d like to congratulate the Somerset Foster Care Association on reaching its first birthday. I know the Fostering Team was thrilled to be able to support carers make the SFCA a reality. Our Foster Carers play such an important role in helping our vulnerable children, and this organisation offers a great way for our them to come together to have an input into the services that support them. I hope it goes from strength-to-strength in the years to come.”
REACH Youth and Somerset County Council’s Fostering and Adoption Recruitment Service are among those who have helped support the association with fundraising, with an epic trek to the summit of Mount Snowdon, a fashion show and race night in Taunton.
For SFCA updates, ‘like’ the Fostering in Somerset Facebook page, or visit www.fosteradoptsomerset.org.uk/resources/sfca
If you are a Foster Carer who would like to join the SFCA, speak to your social worker or message Fostering in Somerset on Facebook to be put in touch with the group.
The SFCA would like to thank the following companies and organisations for their support for their 1st birthday celebration:
- F W Catering
- Frome Town Youth
- Em-Ben bouncy castle
- Centre Parcs – Longleat Forest
- Boots Yeovil
- @Bristol
- Yeovil Town Football Club
- Bristol Aquarium
- Mendip Pursuits
- Grand Pier – Weston Super Mare
- Kilve Court
- Simon Withyman Photography
- Brean Sands Leisure Park
- Golden Stones Leisure Centre Yeovil
- Razooks hair salon, Chard.
