Foster care in Wales receives cash boost

Services for children in foster care in Wales are to be improved
with new funding from the National Assembly.

A £100,000 grant has been awarded to fostering charity the
Fostering Network to open an office in Wales. The funding will be
followed by almost £200,000 in the following two years.

The charity currently works with 75 per cent of foster families
in Wales, as well as 21 out of 22 local authorities. The new
office, which will be based in Cardiff, will enable the
organisation to establish a long-term presence in Wales.

Gerri McAndrew, Fostering Network’s executive director,
said: “The grant will enable us to improve greatly the services for
children in foster care across Wales, and to tackle the isolation
felt by many foster carers.

“We are moving ahead as quickly as possible to set up this
office and hope to have it up and running by spring,” he added.