Fostering Fire Engine Route

14/05/2012

Foster carers and social workers from the Trust will take to the roads in a novelty fire engine this Foster Care Fortnight (14-27 May 2012) to emphasise how a regional shortage of foster carers is reaching emergency levels.

 

The fire engine will make stops along the way for approximately 30 minutes (see stops highlighted in routes below). Anyone interested in fostering will have the opportunity to hop on board and find out more about fostering from our staff and foster carers.

 

Help us spread the word – we urgently need more foster families right across Northern Ireland to provide safe, stable and nurturing homes to vulnerable children and young people. We particularly need foster carers who could offer a children / young people long term homes.

    

Dympna Brogan, Fostering Recruitment Team Manager said: "There are currently 1,916 children and young people living with foster carers in Health and Social Care made up of emergency, respite, short-term, long-term, kinship and specialist placements, of which 315 are living in the Western Trust area. Providing a foster care placement in your home, whether it is respite, short-term, long-term kinship etc, allows a child or young person the chance to thrive in a safe, secure and caring home environment.  Fostering is challenging but also rewarding at the same time.  It take time, patience and commitment to foster."

    

Come and see us to find out more about foster care during our tour of the West:

 Wednesday 23 May 2012 (times may vary)
 10.00-10.30     Omagh – Showgrounds car park  
 10.45    Dromore
 11.10    Ballinamallard (alonmg Enniskillen Road)
 11.30    Enniskillen
 11.45    Brookeborough (via Belfast Road)
 11.55    Lisnaskea
 12.10    Maguiresbridge
 12.15    Ennsikillen via main road
 12.20 - 13.10    Enniskillen - ASda car park
 13.10 - 14.10    Enniskillen - the Diamond
 14.40    Kesh (via Killadeas Road)
 14.45    Ederney
 15.05    Killen
 15.10    Castlederg
 15.30    Newtownstewart
 15.45 - 16.15    Omagh - town centre 

<>     
 Thursday 24 May 2012 (times may vary)
 10.00 - 10.30    Strabane - Asda car park
 10.35    Ballymagorry
 10.45    Newbuildings
 10.50 - 11.50    Londonderry - Ebrington Square
 12.05    Eglinton
 12.10    Greysteel
 12.20    Ballykelly
 12.25 - 12.55    Limavady - Tesco car park
 13.15    Dungiven
 13.30    Claudy
 14.00    Plumbridge
 14.25    Strabane

Alternatively, for further information about the role of a foster carer and how you can apply to become a foster carer please click here.