The vital role foster carers play in improving the lives of Somerset’s children and young people is being celebrated during Foster Care Fortnight.

Somerset Council’s Fostering service is proud to join the national awareness campaign which is taking place from 15 to 28 May.

Activities include a two week community roadshow, and a pebble-finding competition, where participants are encouraged to find specially-marked stones hidden throughout Somerset for a chance to win tickets to the popular Home Farm Festival near Yeovil in June.

The Fostering In Somerset team will also be setting up stands in shops and public spaces across Somerset to talk about foster care and our young people’s need for more foster carers locally, providing an opportunity to learn more about the role of a foster carer informally and ask any questions you may have.

For those who prefer to meet the team virtually, 30-minute online information sessions will be held at 2pm 6pm on Wednesday, 17 May. These sessions will highlight what’s involved in becoming a foster carer, including key information about payments and the application procedure. To find out how to attend one of these online sessions, please visit Fostering in Somerset’s Events webpage.

Cllr Tessa Munt, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Children Families and Education, said:

“Foster Care Fortnight celebrates our amazing foster carers and highlights our growing need for more foster carers in our county, ensuring our vulnerable children and young people can receive the care and support they need.”

To find out where the Fostering In Somerset team will be during Foster Care Fortnight, and for hints as to where the pebbles are hidden, follow @FosteringInSomerset on Facebook or Instagram.

If you’re interested in fostering, visit fosteringinsomerset.org.uk or call 0800 587 9900 to find out how you could change a child’s story as a Somerset Foster Carer.

Foster family taking a coastal selfie

About this article

May 16, 2023

Matthew Auty

Children and Families

Press Release

Social Care