Neil Davies shares updates, encouragement and prayer points related to Home for Good’s work across Wales.

Festivals & Welsh Language resources

I had the privilege of attending a couple of festivals over the summer, to represent Home for Good and engage with lots of people around fostering and adoption.

It was great to be at the CVM’s ‘The Gathering’ again in June - in ‘a field somewhere near Swindon’ - along with our CEO Tarn Bright and my colleague Stu Dendy. Tarn’s address on the main stage had a real impact, so much so that there were cues of people waiting to speak with us both immediately after and throughout the weekend. Many of these conversations were with men living in Wales which was further extended at the traditional ‘Welsh BBQ’ on the Saturday afternoon!

In August, we enjoyed a presence for the whole week of the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd. The opportunity meant that we translated some of our Welsh based stories and printed many copies which we handed out. We also had the pleasure of Arfon Jones speaking inspirationally on his own family’s great and challenging adoption story at the Friday lunchtime service.

We’re slowly developing our bank of Welsh Language resources. We now have three stories from Wales, available in both Welsh and English:

• Heulwen’s story (‘Heirs’)

• Catherine’s story

• Dan’s story

We also have two updated versions of our 38,000 video that I’d encourage you to view or share – one Welsh language version and one Welsh accent (English) version.

Speaking engagements

At Home for Good, we love coming to church services and midweek gatherings to inspire people from God’s Word and to share something of our vision. I’ve had many opportunities to speak and share at churches over the past few months. These have ranged from a 10-minute presentation to a full preaching slot. The response has been very encouraging. Here’s one of the comments we received after one of these speaking engagements: “We considered supported lodgings a number of years ago as we have the space in our house. I think God is bringing this subject up for me again.”

Speaking and presenting in churches is something we love to do at Home for Good. I’d love to come and speak at your church. Please contact me via the email address below if you would like to book me in – or you can use our online ‘Book a Speaker’ form.

Personal meet ups

Over recent months I have been contacted by people interested in exploring fostering, adoption and Supported Lodgings as well as those needing support. It’s been such a pleasure to meet up with these individuals, to hear their story, encourage them along the way and connect them with our Enquiry and Family Support Team. If you know of anyone who is exploring opening-up their home or who needs support with their fostering or adoption journey, please do encourage them to contact the team or to get in touch with me. You can connect with the Enquiry and Family Care team via our ‘Get in touch page’

Monmouthshire & Pembrokeshire

In recent months some people in Monmouthshire and Pembrokeshire have expressed a desire for a greater Home for Good presence. We are exploring what this may look like which is hugely encouraging. If you live in one of these areas and would like to know more please get in touch, I’d love to hear from you. Equally if you live in a different area and are keen to explore what this could look like please get in touch.

Support Groups 

Home for Good Support Groups offer foster carers and adoptive parents a great opportunity for mutual sharing and encouragement. We’d love to see more groups starting up across Wales. If this is something you’d be keen to explore, please get in touch. Do also let me know if you’d be interested in connecting with either the Cardiff or Kinmel Bay support groups or joining the new Llanelli group – which will hopefully start in the coming months.

What can I be praying for?

We would love you to stand with us in prayer as we continue to work to find a home for every child who needs one in Wales.

• Please pray for these explorations in Monmouthshire and Pembrokeshire, that God would bring clarity to plans and help us to gain momentum.
• Pray for all who have heard the message of Home for Good in the past few months, that they would respond to how the Holy Spirit is prompting and leading them.
• Pray for any foster carers or adopters who are struggling in some way. Pray that people would gather around them with support, that their situations would become more manageable and that they would find resolution and peace
• Pray that more Home for Good support groups would develop across Wales.
• Pray for opportunities to speak at and resource churches -in both English and Welsh language settings

Are there any events happening soon that I can attend?

• 9 September – Start of the next Foundation Course (online)
• 30 September – Safe Families and Home for Good Vision Night (online)
• 23rd November – an exciting event in Newport, hosted by Care for the Family in partnership with Home for Good and Safe Families. Further details to follow.

Head over to our Wales events page to find out what is happening in the area.

Take me there

How do I get in touch with a member of the Home for Good team in Wales?

Neil Davies, Wales Lead - [email protected]