Celebrating our foster carers

Foster Care Fortnight is now well under way and we were delighted to attend the official launch alongside foster carers, care experienced young people, staff and supporters from across Northern Ireland.

The event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our foster carers, reaffirm our commitment to do the best for our children and young people, and encourage more people to come forward and consider fostering.

We were privileged to hear from young people with lived experience of foster care and a panel of foster carers, along with a message from the Health Minister recognising the importance of foster carers in our community.

This year’s theme is The Power of Relationships. Whether it’s the bond between a foster carer and a child, the support of social workers, the friendships built within fostering communities, or the connections with birth families, these relationships shape lives, create stability, and open up new possibilities for the future.

New figures from The Fostering Network show there remains a significant shortage of foster carers in Northern Ireland, with at least 400 new fostering households required across the province to meet current demand.

This shortage underscores the retention and recruitment challenges in foster care, against a backdrop of increasing numbers of children coming into the care system in Northern Ireland.

If you would like to find out how you could become part of HSC NI Foster Care’s fostering community please call us on 0800 0720 137 or fill out an online enquiry form.

19th May 2025