For the sixth year in a row, hundreds of people from Torbay’s Fostering, Special Guardians, Disability families, as well as our care experienced young people, enjoyed taking part in Dartmouth Steam Railway’s annual Christmas Train of Lights.

The event – which is the sixth year the event has taken place for Foster Carers, cared for children, special guardians, children with disabilities, and care experienced young people - took place on Thursday 27 November. More than 800 tickets were provided this year and in total since we started doing the Train of Lights in 2019, Dartmouth Steam Railway have generously provided 4,045 tickets to our families.

The event was organised by Torbay Council’s Corporate Parent Champions and Children’s Services to help create magical memories and a shared experience in the run up to Christmas. It is one of a number of events that the Council, working with a wide range of corporate Fostering partners, offers as part of a package of support for Foster Carers which also includes training, local support groups and networks and professional advice from a team that includes social workers, experienced Foster Carers as mentors, and much more.

This year for the first time, Sound Communities joined in the fun and recorded interviews with people going on the Train of Lights for a podcast they are recording especially for the occasion.

Also at the event were representatives from Fostering South West, the new regional hub to promote Fostering with local authorities, who work with 15 councils across the south west region, and Mood Bears who are the official mascots for Fostering South West.

The event was also attended by Council Leader David Thomas and Cllr Jacqueline Thomas, Councillor Nick Bye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Deputy Leader Cllr Chris Lewis and Civic Mayor Councillor Barbara Lewis, Cllr Cordelia Law, Cllr Mandy Darling, and local MPs Steve Darling and Caroline Voaden, as well as Father and Mrs Christmas and many more special guests.

Dart Netball Club and Torbay Council staff kindly donated more than 600 packets of crayons for the children at the event.

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

Change a Child’s Future – Foster With Torbay. #FosterWithTorbay

Watch the video on our YouTube channel. 

Pictured below is Councillor Nick Bye, our Cabinet Member for Children's Services with one of the Mood Bears who are the official mascot for Fostering South West.