Torbay celebrates Foster Care Fortnight 2025 (12 to 25 May 2025)
Torbay marks Foster Care Fortnight (12 to 25 May) with local events and new initiatives to support Foster Carers.
The Foster Care Fortnight is led by national charity The Fostering Network. This year's theme is 'The Power of Relationships'. Connections are at the heart of every fostering journey. Strong, trusting relationships are the golden thread that runs through every fostering story. Whether it’s the bond between a foster carer and a child, the support of social workers, the friendships built within fostering communities, or the connections with birth families. These relationships shape lives, create stability and open new possibilities for the future.
You can speak to the Fostering team at the Devon County Show and the English Riviera Airshow.We will also congratulate local Foster Carers who have more than 25 years’ experience of fostering at an upcoming Children’s Services staff event.
We also recently added a dedicated beach hut to the growing support we provide local Foster Carers. Other initiatives include a Christmas party and a summer barbecue. We also launched the new Mockingbird support scheme earlier this year.
LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week (3 to 9 March 2025)
We want to remind you that fostering or adopting is open to people from all backgrounds. It is an annual campaign led by the national charity New Family Social. We are also working in partnership with Adopt South-West.
Events during the week include:
- Tuesday 4 March - an online webinar run by New Family Social
- Wednesday 5 March - our Fostering team attending the South Devon College Careers Fair
New Mockingbird fostering scheme launched for Torbay. Foster families celebrated at Paignton Zoo
Half-term week was a busy one for Fostering in Torbay.
It was the official launch of a new pilot scheme to support foster carers in Brixham. The scheme is based on a globally award-winning programme. On Wednesday we held a celebration event for fostering families at Paignton Zoo. More than 1,500 people attended these special gatherings across the country at:
- Paignton Zoo
- Newquay Zoo
- Monkey World
- Bristol Zoo Project
- Cotswold Wildlife Park
Fostering South-West, the regional fostering hub organised it all. They were also joined by Mood Bears. They are an official partner of Fostering South-West.
On Thursday we launched the first new Mockingbird Family Model. This was at Churston Golf Club near Brixham. We were joined by:
- Foster carers
- children involved with the local scheme
- representatives from Torbay Council
- other partners
Train of Lights
Hundreds of people enjoyed taking part in Dartmouth Steam Railway’s annual Christmas Train of Lights. People from Torbay’s fostering team, special guardians, families with additional needs and our care experienced young people all had a great time. Thank you to Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company for hosting the event. Thanks also to Fostering South West and Mood Bears for supporting the event. If you are thinking of becoming a Foster Carer please call 01803 207845, email us, or visit our webpages.
Christmas party to celebrate Torbay Foster Carers
A Christmas party was held for Torbay’s foster carers and children at Upton Vale church. This was for our Foster Carers to celebrate Christmas and to say thank you for all their hard work throughout the year. The event was well attended with more than 50 people taking part. As well as Christmas party music and food there was a raffle. The event was also attended by Torbay Council’s Fostering team, Director of Children’s Services Nancy Meehan, and Councillor Nick Bye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services. This is just one of the great events we hold for Foster Carers throughout the year. From summer barbecues, to quarterly Fostering forums, to the annual Train of Lights event. If you are thinking of becoming a Foster Carer please call 01803 207845, email us, or visit our webpages.
Other Fostering news
- New Mockingbird Fostering scheme launched for Torbay and Foster families celebrated at Paignton Zoo
- Train of Lights treat for Fostering families in Torbay
- Torquay United – Another great year for Foster Carer partnership!
- Christmas party for Torbay’s Foster Carers
- Torbay Council celebrates Fostering Friendly status as we celebrate Foster Care Fortnight
- LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week
- October is Children of Foster Carers Month – could your family foster?
- Wellbeing Day on 29 October as part of Care Leavers Week
- Care Leavers Week 28 October to 3 November
- Torbay Pride