Community
Hundreds more foster families needed in Wales

AT LEAST 550 new foster families are needed across Wales during 2015 to provide s t a b l e , secure and loving homes for record numbers of fostered children, according to figures released today from The Fostering Network.
Each day sees over 4,450 children living with around 3,500 foster families in homes across Wales. With a rising number of children coming into care, and approximately 13 per cent of foster carers retiring or leaving the service last year, there is a need to not only recruit more foster carers but also better utilise the current pool of foster carers. More foster families are particularly needed to provide homes for teenagers, children with disabilities and sibling groups.
Without enough foster families willing and able to offer homes to these groups, some children will find themselves living a long way from family, friends and their school. It could also lead to them being split up from brothers and sisters, or being placed with a foster carer who does not have the right skills and experience to meet their specific needs. These pressures can lead to relationships breaking down, and children having to make regular moves between homes. Some young people will also be living in residential care when fostering has been identified as the best option for them.
Dr Emily Warren, director of The Fostering Network Wales, said: “Fostering can be an incredibly rewarding career and lifestyle choice for those who do come forward, opening their hearts and homes to children and young people who need security and stability.
“Fostering is also a challenging job, and when the match between foster family and child is not right, it becomes even more difficult. A wider pool of foster carers enables fostering services to be able to match the needs of each child more closely with the skills that each foster carer brings, and to find the right home for each child, first time.
“However, as well as recruiting new foster carers, fostering services must look at the foster carers who are currently available to them in their local area. Where existing foster carers have space in their homes, it may be possible to retrain and support them to look after different ages of children with a variety of different needs.
“Children and young people come into care for a wide range of reasons, but all come needing professional, dedicated and compassionate support. Foster carers are remarkable people who open their homes to some of the most disadvantaged children and young people in Wales.”
“We urgently need people who have the right skills and qualities to foster to come forward and make a long lasting positive difference to the life of a child. In particular, foster carers are needed to provide homes for teenagers and children with disabilities, and to help sibling groups stay together.”
During 2015 an additional 550 foster families are needed in Wales, 6,900 in England, 170 in Northern Ireland, and 750 in Scotland.
Details of fostering services and more information about fostering and becoming a foster carer are available from couldyoufoster.org.uk.
Community
Spectacular evening of music at Ysgol Greenhill

MUSIC lovers can enjoy a wonderful evening of entertainment at Ysgol Greenhill in Tenby next week, featuring talent straight from the West End.
The Denmark Street Big Band will headline the evening on Friday April 4.
The musical extravaganza also marks the launch of the Ysgol Greenhill Theatre to further promote and support the arts at the school and showcase the talents of young people.
The Denmark Street Big Band are a throwback to when exciting big bands electrified audiences and recreates the swinging sounds made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin among many others.
Having performed regularly on the London music circuit, the Denmark Street Band brings its show to Greenhill and will take to the stage with local favourites Tenby Male Voice Choir as part of the Choir’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
A special West End guest will also join the Choir to perform.
The event is also an opportunity to showcase incredible school talent and provide an opportunity for pupils to play alongside professional performers.
A further highlight will be a sneak preview of the return this summer of a major school production, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
This will be the first school production in six years and preparations are in full swing.
The event takes place at Ysgol Greenhill on Friday April 4 from 7pm. Ticket prices are £18 for adults and £16 for concessions.
For tickets, see https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ and search Ysgol Greenhill or contact the school on 01834 840100.
Community
New library system coming to Pembrokeshire Libraries

Temporary disruption to services between 8th–28th May
PEMBROKESHIRE Libraries will be upgrading to a new library management system this spring. The switch will affect services between Wednesday, 8th May and Tuesday, 28th May, with temporary disruption to the systems that manage library membership, customer accounts, book loans, item details, and access to digital services.
During this time, the current system will be replaced by a temporary platform provided by the new supplier. While core borrowing services will continue, other services such as:
- Book reservations and requests
- Access to the online catalogue
- Use of self-service machines
…will be unavailable until the transition is complete.
Normal service is expected to resume from Wednesday, 28th May, as libraries begin using the new system.

A new all-Wales library system
Pembrokeshire Libraries has joined the all-Wales Public Library Service consortium, supported by grant funding from the Welsh Government. The change in supplier will not only improve the quality of service for customers but also reduce costs.
Benefits of the new system include:
- A more user-friendly online catalogue
- Better account management tools
- Easier access to e-books, audiobooks, and digital resources
- A new events calendar for library users
There are no plans to close any libraries, including the Mobile Library and Library at Home service, during the transition. However, unstaffed access (Open Plus) at Narberth and Neyland libraries will be unavailable until the upgrade is complete.
You can still borrow books during the changeover, but you must bring your library card, as staff will be unable to access your details manually.
Loan extensions and overdue charges
- Loan due dates between 8th May and 14th June will automatically be extended to Monday, 16th June (or your next library open day).
- No overdue fines will be charged during this period.
- Any existing fines or charges will be carried over to the new system.
- Up to two years of your loan history will be transferred. If you wish to download your full loan history, you must do so by Tuesday, 7th May, via the library webpage:
www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/libraries-and-culture
Statement from the Council
Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “There will be some disruption to library services as we switch over to the new management system. As our library staff learn new skills, there may also be temporary issues with e-resources, so we kindly ask for your patience.
If customers remember to bring their library card, they can still borrow books as normal. From Wednesday, 28th May, we’ll start using the new and improved system.”
Key dates to remember
- Tuesday, 9th April
Last day to place reservations, stock requests, or inter-library loan requests (including Reading Groups). - Tuesday, 7th May
Last day to use self-service machines and Open Plus unstaffed access.
Final day for courtesy and overdue notices to be sent. - 8th May – 14th June
No items will be due back during this period. All loans will be extended to Monday, 16th June (or next working day). - Wednesday, 28th May
Expected start of new system roll-out (depending on each library’s opening days).
Community
Police assist as loose horses cause concern near Pembroke Leisure Centre

A GROUP of loose horses caused alarm near Pembroke Leisure Centre on Sunday (March 30), prompting a police response and reigniting concerns over the ongoing issue of fly-grazing in Pembrokeshire.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police attended the scene to ensure public safety and attempt to secure the animals, which had been spotted wandering in the area.
This latest incident comes amid growing frustrations over repeated occurrences of horses roaming freely on roads and public land, or on private land without the landowner’s permission.
The problem of fly-grazing—where horses are left to graze on land without consent—has become a serious issue across the county, with multiple cases reported in recent months including at St Daniels Hill in Pembroke. In that case, horses were eventually removed following a long struggle by landowner Paul Hay, who said the situation had caused significant distress and called for new legislation to protect the public.
Last month, one local resident reported her father suffered head injuries and wrote off his car after hitting a loose horse on the A477 in the dark. Despite the severity of the incident, no further police action was taken, fuelling anger among residents.

County Councillor Jonathan Grimes has been liaising with local authorities and police in a bid to address the issue, while members of the public have also come forward to share experiences of property damage and road closures.
The Herald has contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for a statement about the latest incident.
Anyone with concerns about loose horses which may cause a danger to traffic or pedestrians can call the police on 101. In an emergency, always call 999.
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