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Torbay celebrates Foster Care Fortnight (11 – 24 May 2026). Come to one of the events!

Have you ever thought about Fostering? Our Fostering team will be attending a series of local events across Torbay and wider Devon throughout May including Foster Care Fortnight (11 – 24 May) and would love to see you.

Events include Devon County Show (21-23 May), English Riviera Airshow (29-31 May) and much much more.

The 2026 campaign theme for Foster Care Fortnight is ‘This is Fostering,’ focusing on showcasing real stories, celebrating the fostering community, and recruiting new carers.

Find out more.

Join a free Foster Care Fortnight webinar and hear what welcoming a child into your home really looks like. 

Fostering care fortnight

Listen to Annette from our Fostering team on the Fostering South West podcast

Our very own Annette from Torbay’s Fostering team is the special guest on the latest Fostering South West podcast.

Annette shares her expert insights on what it takes to become a foster carer and the exciting new ways she and her team are supporting fostering families .
From navigating the fostering journey to creating stronger support networks, Annette’s passion shines through as she talks about helping carers thrive and children stay connected to their communities.
If you want to learn more about fostering and hear about innovative support available for families, this is a must-listen!

Listen to the Ocean Youth (part of Sound Communities) podcast about the Train of Lights!

At this year’s Train of Lights we were really pleased to have Daisy and Charlie from Ocean Youth (part of Sound Communities) join us to record a special podcast where they interviewed a number of people enjoying the event.

Hundreds including Fostering families enjoy Train of Lights

Hundreds of people took part in Dartmouth Steam Railway’s annual Christmas Train of Lights. Torbay’s Fostering, Special Guardians, Disability families and care experienced young people all came along.

This is sixth year the event has taken place and took place on Thursday 27 November. More than 800 tickets were provided this year. Since 2019, Dartmouth Steam Railway have generously provided 4,045 tickets to our families.

If you are interested in becoming a Foster Carer please call 01803 207845, email fostering@torbay.gov.uk or visit our Fostering webpages.

Children of Foster Carers Week (13 to 19 October 2025)

From 13 October to 19 October we celebrate Children of Foster Carers Week. John Jones is Managing Director of Dartmouth Steam Railway. John's parents fostered several children when he and his sister were growing up. Listen to him talk about his experiences and memories.

Dartmouth Steam Railway is one of our official Corporate Partners for Fostering. John and his team have supported Torbay Council's Fostering and Children's Services for a long time. Every year, Dartmouth Steam Railway provides a free ticket for its Train of Lights for:

  • Foster Carers,
  • children,
  • special guardians,
  • families with disabled children and
  • care experienced young people

More than 750 people attended in 2024.

Children of Foster Carers Week is The Fostering Network’s annual campaign to celebrate children of foster carers. Each October, fostering services across the UK run events to recognise and reward them. They help make foster children in care feel happy, safe, welcome and loved.

Are you interested in becoming a Foster Carer? Please call 01803 207845, email fostering@torbay.gov.uk or visit our Fostering webpages.

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