St. David’s Children Society - A Big Issue Cymru Big List Subscriber

 
St. David’s Children Society is the longest serving Voluntary Adoption agency registered in Wales. It operates throughout Wales and Hereford and is a registered non-profit making charity whose core activity is to recruit, assess and support adoptive families. Joan Price, the Adoption Services Manager, explains why they support the Big Issue.

What we do...
Many children have experienced severe disadvantage in their early lives and are unable to remain living with the family they were born in to. St David’s is there to ensure that these children have the opportunity to live in a loving adoptive family where they can feel safe and reach their full potential. In our last year we have placed 34 children with adoptive families. We work in partnership with other agencies including Local Authorities, Adoption UK and BAAF and employ eight social workers. As one of our children, David, aged six, expressed when asked in school what made him happy: “I have got a new Mummy and Daddy and a dog!"

What are our goals?
We want what every parent would want for their child; the opportunity to grow and develop within a loving stable family, to reach their potential, to feel safe and secure and to have the skills and confidence to equip them for life. 

Why are we part of the Big Issue?
We recognise that The Big Issue provides a supportive framework for people to begin to rebuild their lives, enhance their self-esteem and empower them. At various points in our lives we can all benefit from support and help and the Big Issue is a very practical example of this in practice. Many children who experience a disrupted chaotic beginning to their lives will have similar needs for support if they are to flourish, and through agencies like ourselves, we can try and develop their resilience and equip them for a more positive future.

What are our plans for the future and why are we a success?
Our aim is to continually develop our services with partner agencies and adoptive families to ensure that the greatest number of children possible have the opportunity for a fulfilling family life. We have successfully achieved an increase in the number of children placed this year, and have recruited additional social work staff to cope with the increased demand on the service. We are committed to providing a high quality service from the point of first contact, and are striving to ensure that this basic principle remains central to the work that we do.

St David’s Children Society, 28 Park Place Cardiff CF10 3BA

Twitter: @StDavidsCS
Facebook: St David's Children Society
E.mail info@stdavidscs.org
Website: www.adoptionwales.org

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