A cavalcade of bikers took to the road across Northern Ireland on Saturday to raise awareness and champion Foster Care Fortnight.
The bikers, some of whom are Foster Carers, made five whistle stops in each Trust area to meet the public, fostering staff, fellow foster carers and supporters in the communities. The tour began at Belfast’s Royal Avenue before revving into Lisburn, Ballymena, Enniskillen and Armagh.
Foster Carer Gareth Irvine, who led the tour said: “I’m passionate about championing fostering and raising awareness of the need for more foster carers right across Northern Ireland. This tour is a great opportunity to meet people face‑to‑face, answer questions, and share honest experiences of what fostering really involves.
The simple, everyday things we do as foster carers can make a lasting difference to children’s lives. Helping them feel safe and secure allows them to grow in confidence, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that progress. My wife, Natasha, and I do our best to give each child a positive experience of family life while they’re with us so they feel valued, supported, and cared for.”
South Eastern Trust Director of Children’s Services, Executive Director of Social Work Marie-Louise Sloan added, “The Fostering 400 Biker Tour is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of fostering, directly within local communities across Northern Ireland. We urgently need more Foster Carers to come forward and events like this help shine a spotlight on the incredible difference fostering can make in a child or young person’s life while encouraging others to take that first step to find out more.”
People from a wide variety of backgrounds can foster, including those who are single or married, who work or not, homeowners or renters, and those with or without children of their own. There are different types of fostering opportunities available, meaning fostering does not always require a full‑time commitment.
HSC NI foster carers receive ongoing professional support, tailored training and development opportunities, as well as financial allowances and access to local support networks and family activities.
To find out more about fostering with HSC NI Foster Care, call 0800 0720 137 or visit adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net.