Family Fostering Partners support Tŷ Hafan’s Dark Run

We Took Part in Tŷ Hafan's Dark Run at the National Botanic Garden of Wales 

At Family Fostering Partners, we’re always looking for ways to actively support our community. This year, we were thrilled to sponsor and take part in Tŷ Hafan’s Dark Run at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire. The Dark Run (or walk in some cases!) was an evening filled with fun, laughter, and an incredible atmosphere, all in support of Tŷ Hafan’s vital work; providing care and comfort to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. With glow sticks at the ready, bracing the cold and dressed in all things neon, we set off at darkness to complete a 5k route through the beautiful National Botanic Gardens of Wales which can be found around half way between our office in Cross Hands and our previous home in Carmarthen.  

Who Are Tŷ Hafan? 

Tŷ Hafan provide care and support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Based in the Vale of Glamorgan, they offer respite and end-of-life care and ongoing bereavement support across Wales, both in their hospice and in families' homes.  

Tŷ Hafan’s compassionate team also provides emotional and practical support for families, ensuring that they never face the unimaginable alone. The charity relies on donations and fundraising to continue offering its vital services, making events like the Dark Run crucial for their mission. 

We’re proud to support Tŷ Hafan through our Buttons the Elephant soft toys. Each elephant is more than just a sweet keepsake - all profits from the sale of Buttons go directly to Tŷ Hafan, helping to fund the crucial care they provide across Wales. Whether you're looking for a meaningful gift or simply want to support a worthy cause, purchasing one of our elephants is a wonderful way to contribute to this amazing charity. Click here to purchase one.  

Who Are Family Fostering Partners? 

We are an Independent Fostering agency that is dedicated to recruiting, training and supporting as many foster parents as possible to help us in our mission to provide safe and nurturing homes for children. As our name suggests, our approach to fostering is a working partnership between us as an agency, the local authority and the foster parents we support, but more than that, we have a personalised family friendly approach.  

Echoed in our collaboration with Tŷ Hafan, we know the importance of partnering with others when it comes to making a meaningful impact. At Family Fostering Partners, we work closely with our foster parents and the children in their care- standing with them to provide the resources, guidance, and encouragement they need to succeed in their fostering journey.  

We believe our greatest testimonials come from the foster parents we support, and the children they have cared for. Davin, a care experienced individual was fostered by Family Fostering Partners Foster Parents Jackie and Andy. To Jackie and Andy, Davin says ….’ I would say ‘living with you guys were the best years of my life. So far, without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't be the person I am, and for that, I will always be grateful. I'm happy that we're still together. We're still in contact, and I still get to see you, to talk to you, and I'm still part of the family. But I think what I need to say is, even though I'm not with you guys anymore, I will always miss you. I'll always love you, and thank you.’ Click here to hear more from Davin. 

Currently fostering in Wales and thinking about transferring? Why the right partnership is so important.  

If you are currently fostering but thinking of transferring to an Independent Fostering Agency, the process could not be simpler. Click here to learn more about transferring to us, and what we can offer to you on your fostering journey. There are many myths and misconceptions about transferring between fostering agencies, but David, a foster parent who transferred to us, shares the importance of the right partnership  “The biggest learning curve for us on this journey so far has been finding the right organization to partner with in this process. In the beginning, we fostered through the local authority, which wasn't very supportive, and we found that to be a bigger burden than actually supporting the children. So, finding the right agency to be part of and to partner with is very important.”   

Speaking on the support he and his wife received, David explains ‘Training and Support is paramount in your journey as a foster parent, and it's incredibly important. It might seem a little bit daunting to spend all day listening or doing whatever – roleplay! Don’t even go there! However, it's incredibly important, and it is really good to get that support.  During our time with the local authority, we had very little support and very little training and very little development. With FFP, it's definitely been a lot more intense and a really high quality,  we are better foster parents for it. “ 

Conclusion 

Whether through the sale of our Buttons the Elephant toys, the work we do with our fostering families or through our participation in events like the Dark Run, we are always looking for ways to give back. Together with our foster parents, carers, and supporters, we believe that every small act of kindness can make a lasting impact. If you’re interested in learning more about Tŷ Hafan and the fantastic work that they do, please click here. Alternatively, if you’d like to learn more about fostering in Wales with Family Fostering Partners, use the ‘chat to us feature’ and ask us a question, complete our application form or contact us today.