“There is a day just for us and it makes us feel a bit special”

On Care Day 2018, looked after children and their foster carers celebrated their childhood down on Longdown Activity Farm.

Even though it was a very wet day, they bravely persevered and enjoyed bottle-feeding calves and lambs and collected eggs. They had fun on the trampolines and go-karts too.

There was a more serious focus for the event as at lunch time the group of young people, and their carers and support workers came together to talk about what it was like for young people to be in foster care – whether there was anything they enjoyed about being in care,  what challenges they face and what changes we could make to support them.

They decided that although there were many drawbacks to being in foster care, including not seeing their families as often as they may like, there are lots of opportunities when you’re in foster care and chances to do things they might not have been able to do previously.

The day was rounded off decorating Care Day posters and a special Care Day Cake!

The ‘5 nations 1 voice’ Care Day recognises the lives and achievements of the 100, 000 + looked after children in UK and Ireland. This is what some of our young people thought about the day, which falls on the third Friday of February each year.  

DR

‘I really enjoyed the day; my favourite part was meeting young people I hadn’t met before – I hope to see them again soon’

AO

‘My favourite thing was feeding the lambs, they were very cute! – I liked talking to other children about what it’s like in Foster care. It’s nice to celebrate it, like there is a day for just us – it makes me feel like we are a bit special.