It’s Foster Care Fortnight (13-26 May 2024) and to make this Torbay’s biggest and best ever, our local Fostering team will be out and about nearly every day throughout the fortnight.

From Devon County Show at Westpoint, to town centres and libraries in Brixham, Paignton, Torquay and Newton Abbot, you can meet the team and ask them any questions you might have about Fostering and if you are thinking of becoming a Foster Carer now’s the time.

The theme of Foster Care Fortnight this year is #FosteringMoments – celebrating the moments that define fostering journeys, big and small. The moments that build confidence, make young people feel safe and create memories.

We are also working with our local Foster Carers on a brand new Fostering recruitment campaign in Torbay to ask them to share their own personal Fostering moments and memories with you and we will be launching this very soon. We conducted a survey for Foster Carers towards the end of 2023 about what they would like to see in a new Fostering campaign and are now working with Foster Carers based on their feedback, so watch this space. In line with Foster Care Fortnight we’ve been asking the Foster Carers what their favourite Fostering moments are – here’s what they told us:

• David – “Seeing the children you fostered moving on and being happy and having a real shot at life. That’s the real reward.”
• Dawn and Rachel - “The best thing about Fostering is seeing them become more confident and creative. Our best fostering moments are days out, they’re always fun.”

Councillor Nick Bye said: “We are so grateful to all our fantastic local Foster Carers for all they do to support children and young people in Torbay, and Foster Care Fortnight is a great opportunity to both celebrate our existing Foster Carers and to encourage more local people to think about Fostering.

“Foster Carers and those they care for will all have moments and memories and we know from our local Foster Carers that they find it so rewarding to see the real difference they are making to children’s lives.

“If you want to become a Foster Carer or just want to find out more, why not come along to one of our events during Foster Care Fortnight, or you can also contact our Fostering team on 01803 207845 or visit our Fostering webpages.“

Last year Torbay Council was accredited as a Fostering Friendly Employer for the first time by national charity The Fostering Network, and now wants to work with other local organisations to help them to become Fostering Friendly. This means we can not only support those staff who are already foster carers but also encourage others who may be thinking about fostering but haven’t yet taken the step, or who are looking for an employer with a Fostering Friendly approach.

Other local businesses that are interested in becoming Fostering Friendly can also contact the Fostering service on 01803 207845.

Come to one of our Fostering events during Foster Care Fortnight

• Monday 13 May 2024 - Paignton town centre (outside NatWest), 11am to 1pm
• Tuesday 14 May 2024 - Torquay Library, Lymington Road, Torquay, TQ1 3DT, 11am to 1pm
• 16,17, and 18 May 2024 - Devon County Show, Westpoint Clyst St Mary, Exeter, Devon, EX5 1DJ, 8am to 6pm everyday
• Tuesday 21 May 2024 - Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AG, 11am to 1pm
• Wednesday 22 May 2024 - Torquay Town Centre (outside Primark), 11am to 1pm
• Thursday 23 May 2024 - Brixham Town Centre (opposite Tesco), 11am to 1pm
• Friday 24 May 2024 - Newton Abbot Library, Market Street, Newton Abbot, TQ12 2RJ, 11am to 1pm
• Saturday 25 May 2024 - Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AG, 11am to 1pm.

If you can’t make one of the events you can get in touch with our Fostering team by calling 01803 207845 or visit our Fostering webpages.