Swindon Town players show their support for Council’s foster carers

Swindon Town Football Club teamed up with Swindon Borough Council’s fostering team to back their appeal for more foster carers to come forward and provide loving homes for children who have no-one to care for them.

The club’s footballing stars wore special t-shirts during the warm-up before Saturday’s (27 April) final match of the season at home to Morecambe to raise awareness of fostering.

More than 300 children, from babies to teenagers, are under the care of the Council because they cannot stay in their own home.

Eleven foster carers and 10 foster children attended the match, which ended in a 3-3 draw, after the club provided them with free tickets.

The t-shirt promotion was proposed by Hayley, a foster carer with the Council, who wanted to encourage others to start their fostering journey with the local authority and celebrate those who are already part of the team.

Hayley said: “My husband and I have been fostering with Swindon Borough Council for nearly 14 years and as foster carers we are always looking at ways to help promote fostering and encourage new carers.

“My friend Rachel works for STFC and we thought what great opportunity to team up with your friend and our local football team to help us work together as a community in promoting fostering in Swindon.

“Rachel provided us with some tickets for our foster carers and children for Saturday’s match against Morecambe and she’s also been working with Marieanna MacPherson, our Recruitment and Retention Officer, who arranged for the players to wear the t-shirts and promote fostering in the pre-match warm up.

“Hopefully this will highlight and promote the need for new local carers to come forward and enquire about becoming a foster carer.”

To find out more about fostering in Swindon visit: www.swindon.gov.uk/fostering.

Alternatively, you can call 07917 503447 or email fosteringrecruitment@swindon.gov.uk