Page 20 - link magazine

20 swindonlink.com • July 2011
Do you have a room to spare?
Foster carers are needed . . .

Swindon Borough Council has launched a year long campaign to
highlight the need for more foster families to ensure the town’s most
vulnerable children can stay in their community.
CANDICE - Red,
French navy, beige The campaign aims to encour- qualify you from becoming a carer.
or gold leather £53 age a diverse range of people to You will also be expected to attend
come forward to meet the needs of a pre-service training and attend
children and young people in care. ongoing training once approved.
EASY - Navy Fostering is about helping chil- Foster carer Sandra described
or beige leather dren and young people get through the experience of fostering as one
£49 a family emergency or a crisis. of the most rewarding experiences
BLAYLOCKS Foster carers come from all kinds of her life. “To see a child come into
of backgrounds. The only common your home scared, anxious, severely
Bath Road Corner, Old Town denominator is that they are people neglected and abused is dreadful.
Tel: 534271 who are interested and committed to However, to see them leave you,
helping children and young people a happy go lucky, confi dent, well
by offering to share their homes and cared for child, with a bright future,
their lives for the period of time. is totally fantastic. Every child is dif-
Cheryl Keller, assistant team ferent so there is always something
Foster for Swindon manager with the borough’s Family new to learn, and after fi ve years of
Placement Team said, “every young fostering I am still learning and en-
person and child is unique - so we joying my role. I would encourage
need a wide range of carers to help anyone to step forward and give a
People Like You - Providing a Home us to meet their individual needs as child a home.”
fully as possible.
Foster carers are provided with
“As you would expect, an exten- ongoing training and an allowance.
sive interview and assessment is There is someone available 24 hours
Make a big difference to children conducted. References are under- a day, seven days a week to call
and young people in Swindon. Foster. taken and there are police checks. and talk to.
Only certain serious criminal For more information call the
convictions will automatically dis- Family Placement Team on 465700.
01793 465700
[email protected] Mayor Ray meets Morgan
www.swindon.gov.uk
for Sainsbury’s cheque handover

Swindon’s mayor Coun Ray Ballman presented a cheque for almost
£2,000 to the Swindon Goldenhar Family Support Group, on behalf
Butterfly World & Craft Village of staff at Sainsbury’s Bridgemead after a year of fundraising events.
StudleyGrange

A Great Family Day Out The mayor Ray Ballman with Simon Belcher for Sainsbury’s and Kerry Holmes
Enjoy a truly magical experience as you walk amonst holding her son Morgan and Alan Holmes
hundreds of the world’s most beautiful butterflies flying
around a tropical paradise of plants and fish filled pools. Staff and the public using the eye and jaw surgery and, at some
Then visit our otters, goats, meerkats, guinea pigs and loads West Swindon supermarket se- point, ear reconstruction.
more farmyard favourites in our outdoor Animal Paddock. lected Goldenhar after a public vote “Despite all this he copes ex-
in early 2010. tremely well and has a real sense
Alan Holmes, grandfather of of cheeky fun.”
Morgan Sharpe, 4, said, “the syn- Alan expressed appreciation for
drome is a rare congenital abnor- the help people give to the support
mality. Morgan was born with one group. “To be voted Sainsbury’s
AN ALL WEATHER ATTRACTION... eye, one ear, part of his jaw missing, Bridgemead Charity of the year
Including Interactive Play & many individual ual
Including Interactive Play & many individ
craft shops, offering a variety of handcrafted gifts. butterfl y vertebrae, and he breathes was great. Swindon’s public have
Venue for Kids Parties • Groups and Coach Parties Welcome through a tracheotomy. really made a difference to the
Open Daily: Summer 10am-6pm; Winter 9am-Dusk ”He’s had many operations and Goldenhar Family Support Group
Tel: 01793 852400 • E-mail: [email protected] now has a prosthetic eye, which I would like to thank everyone for
Studley Grange Garden & Leisure Park needs to be replaced as he grows. their support.”
Hay Lane, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 9QT He recently had major jaw surgery If anyone would like to help raise
FOLLOW THE BROWN TOURIST SIGNS FROM THE M4 JUNCTION 16
to stretch his jaw. There will be more funds see www.goldenhar.org.uk

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