Foster Care Fortnight 2026: This is Fostering
From 11-24 May, The Fostering Network is leading its annual awareness campaign, Foster Care Fortnight, celebrating the incredible impact foster carers have on children and young people across the UK.
This year’s theme, ‘This is Fostering’ shines a light on the real stories, everyday experiences and life-changing relationships at the heart of fostering. It celebrates the dedication, resilience and compassion of foster carers while also highlighting the growing need for more people to step forward and make a difference.
At Caritas Care, we are proud to stand alongside foster carers and the wider fostering community during this important fortnight.
Why fostering matters
Every 15 minutes, another child in the UK comes into care in need of a safe, stable and nurturing home. Many children entering care have experienced trauma, loss or instability and foster carers play a vital role in helping them feel safe, supported and valued again.
Foster carers do far more than provide a place to stay. They encourage children in education, support emotional wellbeing, build confidence and help young people thrive. For many children, fostering is their first experience of consistent care and positive family life.
There are currently around 67,000 children living with foster families across the UK, but there remains an urgent need for thousands more foster carers, particularly for teenagers, sibling groups and children with additional needs.
There are currently around 67,000 children living with foster families across the UK, but there remains an urgent need for thousands more foster carers – particularly for teenagers, sibling groups and children with additional needs.
This is Fostering
The theme for Foster Care Fortnight 2026 reflects the many realities of fostering today.
It celebrates the everyday moments that make fostering so meaningful, from helping with homework and sharing meals together, to supporting children through difficult times and celebrating their achievements.
It also acknowledged the challenges foster carers face, including rising pressures, increasing demands and the need for stronger support and recognition. Most importantly, it is a call for change and a reminder that every child deserves a loving home where they can feel secure and hopeful about the future.
The urgent need for foster carers
Across England alone, around 5,000 more foster families are needed, with shortages affecting every region of the country. Without enough local foster carers, many children are placed far from their schools, friends, communities and support networks.
At Caritas Care, we are encouraging people across the North West and beyond to consider whether fostering could be right for them.
There is no single ‘type’ of foster carer. People from all backgrounds, cultures, faiths and life experiences can foster. What matters most is the ability to provide patience, understanding, stability and care for a child or young person who needs it.
patience, understanding, stability and care for a child or young person who needs it.
Could you make a difference?
Fostering can be challenging, but it is also one of the most rewarding things you can do. As a foster carer with Caritas Care, you would receive:
- Full training and ongoing professional support
- A dedicated social worker
- Competitive fostering allowances
- Access to a supportive fostering community
- Opportunities to make a lasting difference in a child’s life
Whether you are already thinking about fostering or simply want to find out more, Foster Care Fortnight is the perfect time to start the conversation.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a foster carer with Caritas Care, our friendly team is here to help.
Together, we can help ensure every child has the safe and loving home they deserve.
