If you are thinking of becoming a Foster Carer and want to find out more, Torbay Council’s Fostering team is holding a series of Fostering drop-in information sessions. The sessions are very informal and you can have a chat with someone from the Council’s Fostering service about what’s involved and the support available.

The next Fostering events are taking place on the following dates at the times and venues listed below:

• Saturday 29 March 2025, 11am to 1pm: Brixham Library, Market Street, Brixham, TQ5 8EU
• Saturday 5 April 2025, 11am to 1pm: Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AG

The Fostering team will then be at a series of events over the coming months, including Dawlish Eat Festival on Saturday 3 May from 10am to 5pm, Exeter Pride on Saturday 10 May from 11am to 6pm, Devon County Show at Westpoint arena from Thursday 15 May to Saturday 17 May, and English Riviera Airshow on Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June from 10am to 5pm.

You can find out about all the Fostering information events taking place on our Fostering webpages.

Councillor Nick Bye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services for Torbay, said: “Our drop-in Fostering information sessions are open to all. We are committed to supporting our local Foster Carers and we recently launched our first Mockingbird scheme for Torbay working with some of our experienced Foster Carers.

“We are always looking for new Foster Carers, so if you are interested please do get in touch – our team would love to hear from you. Change a child’s future – Foster with Torbay.”

The first Mockingbird scheme for Torbay was recently launched in Brixham. Mockingbird is a global award winning and pioneering programme which involves six to ten foster carers becoming part of a group with other foster carers, who are part of a wider constellation of satellite foster homes. The ‘satellite’ homes in turn get support from a central hub home, which provides advice and support to all the satellite homes.

If you Foster with Torbay you will get access to:  

• Extensive support and training 
• a dedicated social worker 
• Mentoring from an experienced Foster Carer 
• access to a support network including local quarterly Foster Carers Forum 
• events throughout the year for Fostering families including annual summer barbecue, Train of Lights event and Christmas parties

If you are thinking of becoming a Foster Carer you can pop into one of the drop in sessions and speak to a member of the Fostering team, call 01803 207845, email fostering@torbay.gov.uk or visit our Fostering webpages. 

You can also follow Fostering on our social media channels Facebook, Instagram, NextDoor and LinkedIn and search the hashtags #FosterWithTorbay #FosteringMoments and #EverythingFosteringFilm