Children of Foster Carers Week 2026 takes place from Monday, 12 October to Sunday, 18 October, celebrating the vital role children of foster carers play in fostering families.
It’s an annual campaign led by The Fostering Network to recognise and celebrate the contributions of children who grow up in fostering families.
In East Riding, the week provides an opportunity to highlight what East Riding Fostering offers children from the very start of the fostering process.
Marie Hall is East Riding’s Fostering Manager. She said: “We involve children of foster carers right from the very start. We speak to them about their thoughts and feelings and give consideration to how it will impact them. We also support potential foster carers with conversations they might want to have with their children in preparation, and we provide books to help children understand what it’s like to be a fostering family.
“Throughout fostering, right from the assessment stage, we involve children already in the family in all fostering events – and this is quite unique for a local authority and something we value and are proud of.”
Hear from Dawson and Delilah who are part of a fostering family in East Riding:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5S2p1REo0Y&t=106s
Councillor Victoria Aitken, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education said: “Children of foster carers play such an important role, making children in care feel happier, welcome, safer and more loved.
“We know that when people are considering fostering, wondering how it might affect their children is one of the top considerations. The reality is that many children benefit from being part of the support network offered by a fostering family to a child in care.”
Anyone who is interested in fostering can contact East Riding Fostering for a friendly, informal chat or to request an information booklet on: (01482) 394095, via email: fosteringrecruitment@eastriding.gov.uk, at www.eastriding.gov.uk/fostering or follow East Riding Fostering on Facebook.
