There were smiles all round at Laganvale Farm in Lisburn as toddlers and young children gathered with their Foster Carers to celebrate Care Day in a joyful and relaxed setting.
The Farm’s soft play area was filled with laughter as the South Eastern Trust Foster Care Team organised a special afternoon designed to bring foster families together. Alongside plenty of fun for the children, carers had the opportunity to connect with one another over tea, coffee and home-baked treats.
Foster Carer, Joanne Clokey described the event as a “Fantastic way for the children to interact and for us as Foster Carers to get to know each other.”
Joanne stated, “I have been a Foster Carer for just over a year. We knew there were a lot of children out there who needed people to be there for them. The Foster Care Team has been so supportive to us, anything we have needed, any questions we needed to ask, the Team have helped us. They have guided us. They have held our hand the whole way through.”
South Eastern Trust Chairman, Jonathan Patton added how delighted he was to attend the Friday afternoon event. “To hear the laughter and see all the fun around us, is just fabulous. Everybody is having so much fun as we celebrate Care Day.
“We are incredibly grateful to our Foster Carers who look after young children with such dedication and compassion. These are children who need love, care and stability and our carers truly embody those qualities.”
Jonathan also encouraged others to consider fostering, “We would love to welcome new Foster Carers. We know there are families, couples and single individuals who, given the opportunity, would come forward to provide a home and stability to a child. By opening your heart and your home, you can truly change a young person’s life.”
South Eastern Trust, Principal Social Worker Bridie Rainey said, “It is absolutely wonderful to walk into the soft play centre and see it filled with laughter from our Foster Carers and children. Days like this remind us that Fostering is not just about providing a safe home, it is about creating joyful memories, building confidence and giving children the chance to simply be children.
“Seeing everyone relaxing, playing and enjoying themselves together as part of our Care Day celebrations truly shows the strength, warmth and community spirit that makes Fostering so special. We want to say a huge thank you to Nadine and Ian Gilmore at Laganvale Farm for ensuring everyone had such a fantastic experience.”
Head of Service for Cared for Children, Claire Fulton commented, “It is fantastic to see such a strong turnout as we celebrate our younger children and the carers who support them. The number of families here is a testament to the incredible Foster Carers we are fortunate to have.
“For anyone considering Fostering, we provide comprehensive training and ongoing support. There are many children who need the security of a loving family environment and we would encourage anyone interested to get in touch.”
If you are interested in becoming a Foster Carer or finding out more, please contact the HSC NI Foster Care Team on (0800) 0720 137.