Fostering Fortnight 2023 takes place from March 6th – 17th and Orchard Fostering have a number of events lined up to coincide. Fostering Fortnight is about celebrating foster care and the benefits that growing up in a family environment can have on children in care. Foster families can help create better outcomes for children, offering them safety, stability and permanence in a family setting at a time in their lives when they need it most.

What is Fostering Fortnight?

Foster Care Fortnight is annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering and to show how foster care transforms lives. Foster Care Fortnight began in the UK in 1997 demonstrating the commitment, passion, and dedication of foster carers.

This event alone receives around 900 pieces of media coverage each year and in Ireland has attracted reputable media attention which you can read more about here.

The Irish Foster Carer Association (IFCA) is the national organisation for foster families and the fostering community and are hosting a variety of talks and fun activities for all ages which you can keep up to date with here.

These activities and workshops are available for all foster carers who are members of IFCA. As Orchard Fostering acquires membership for all of our foster carers each year, they can register to any of IFCA’s events throughout the year.

Orchard Fostering’s Fostering Fortnight 2023 events will kick off on March 7th to raise awareness around foster care. It celebrates the devotion of foster carers and the positive impact that they have on the lives of over 5000 young people in care in Ireland. If you think you could be the foster carer who makes the difference to a child’s life we would love to hear from you. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, religion, language, culture, gender, disability, age or sexual orientation.

There are a range of fostering options for anyone considering foster care, including long term, respite, emergency, supported lodgings and more. You can contact us today by calling 01 6275713 or emailing us at info@orchardfostering.ie

Fostering Fortnight Events Schedule

We are running a number of events and informational webinars please see details below;

See our Events of full listings here and the foster care services we offer on our Facebook Page.

 

  • Monday 6th – Time 1.30-2.30pm

Area: Galway

Venue: Westside Community Centre, Seamus Quirke Road, Co. Galway

 

  • Tuesday 7th – Time 1:00-2:00pm

Area: Waterford

Location: Waterford Library, Lady Lane, Co. Waterford

 

  • Wednesday 8th – Time 6:00-7:00pm

Area: Meath

Location: Drogheda Library, Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, Co. Meath

 

  • Thursday 9th – Time 2:00-3:00pm

Area: Cork

Location: Cork City Library, 61 Grand Parade, Co. Cork

 

  • Friday 10th – Time 1:00-2:00pm

Area: Kerry

Location: Cumann Iosaef Community Centre, Tralee, Co. Kerry

 

  • Monday 13th – Time 1:00-2:00pm

Area: Westmeath

Venue: Athlone Library, Chruch Street, Co. Westmeath

 

  • Tuesday 14th – Time 1:00-2:00pm

Area: Wexford

Venue: St. Josephs Community Centre, Bishopswater, Co. Wexford

 

  • Wednesday 15th – Time 1:00-2:00pm

Area: North Dublin

Venue: Holywell Community Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin

Area: South Dublin

Venue: Room 3, Mounttown Community Facility, Monkstown, Co. Dublin

 

  • Thursday 16th – Time 1:00-2:00pm

Area: Carlow

Venue: Carlow Library, Tullow Street, Co. Carlow

 

  • Friday 17th – Time 7:00-8:00pm

Area: Online/Virtual Event

 

Please get in contact if you would like to get involved. We look forward to celebrating Fostering Fortnight with you all over the next two weeks!