Every year Fostering Awareness Week takes place in March, highlighting the ever-important role of foster carers and those who support them within our local communities. This year is no exception and Fostering Awareness Week 2024 will take place from the 4th to the 8th of March. In the spirit of providing information about fostering in Ireland, as well as engaging with anyone considering fostering in 2024, Orchard Fostering is holding a number of information sessions that are open to anyone with a curiosity about fostering.
If you’re interested in foster care, please reach out to Orchard Fostering today. We’re available on the phone or via email – you can also fill out a form directly on our contact page.
What is Fostering Awareness Week?
The annual Fostering Awareness Week celebrates the power in the act of fostering, both in the lives of the foster children and for their carers. This year the theme is ‘Growing Hope, Fostering the Future’ with the aim of highlighting how truly impactful the role of a foster carer can be in the life of a child or young person.
For children experiencing adversity, a foster carer provides them with a nurturing environment from which they can develop into the people they were born to become. It also allows them to strengthen their ties to community, providing them with a sense of place and belonging in the world.
In Ireland’s fostering community, the importance of a fostering network cannot be overstated, and that forms the focus of this year’s Fostering Awareness Week. So many people within the community play a part in helping a child to grow and develop. Likewise, the support network for a foster carer often makes their fostering journey that bit easier, knowing they have someone to reach out to for advice, help or just a cup of tea and a chat.
As the Irish Foster Care Association says, “This year, Fostering Awareness Week seeks to celebrate the role of foster carers in Ireland, and how all those working with children throughout our communities can be part of the whole, as with the branches of a tree, collectively contributing to growing hope and fostering the future for children in care”.
Fostering Awareness Week Activities – What to Expect!
At Orchard Fostering we’ll be hosting a range of information sessions during this year’s Fostering Awareness Week. If you’re curious about any aspect of fostering, this is a brilliant way to find out more as well as making the first steps towards submitting an application.
On Monday 4th March at 6pm:
We’ll be holding a general fostering information session with one of our foster carers, Michael. He’ll speak about his experience being a foster carer and the effect it’s had on his life.
On Tuesday 5th March at 3pm:
Our information session focusing on single applicants considering fostering will take place. This in-depth look at life as a single foster carer will be hosted by Andria, one of our wonderful foster carers.
On Wednesday 6th March at 6pm:
A special information session for all members of the LGBTQ+ community interested in fostering a child will take place. Hosted by Chris and Suzy, you’ll hear about their experience of fostering as a same sex couple.
On Thursday 7th March at 7pm:
We’ll be holding an information session all about supported lodgings. Therese will share her experience of being in supported lodgings and answer any questions about this specific type of foster care arrangement.
On Friday 8th March at 1pm:
We’ll end the week on a high with a general information session on fostering hosted by our wonderful social care worker Kerry. She’ll speak about the path to becoming a foster carer or supported lodgings carer to help you decide if fostering is right for you.
To register for any of the above events you can email info@orchardfostering.ie, or message us on any of our social media channels including Linkedin, Instagram, X and Facebook.
If you’re interested in foster care, please reach out to Orchard Fostering today. We’re available on the phone or via email – you can also fill out a form directly on our contact page.