This Foster Care Fortnight, Foster Portsmouth is celebrating its hero carers who provide safe and loving homes for children during a difficult time in their lives.
Anyone wanting to learn more about fostering is invited to the flagship Foster Portsmouth drop-in information event:
Sunday 24 May, 11am-3pm at Southsea Castle (new location this year)
There will be games with prizes, a free popcorn stand and refreshments, and most importantly the chance to ask real carers what it’s like to foster in Portsmouth. Visitors are welcome to bring their families, the event is also dog friendly.
Other drop-in events are taking part during the fortnight, or people can find out more on the Foster Portsmouth website.
The castle event is taking place during Foster Care Fortnight (11-24 May 2026), the UK’s biggest awareness-raising campaign for fostering. This year’s theme is ‘This is Fostering’, and during the fortnight Foster Portsmouth will be sharing stories and achievements from its amazing carers.
Jo Austin has been caring for teenagers with additional needs with Foster Portsmouth for the last 14 years.
Jo said:
“I think the best thing about fostering is, we’ve learned over time that we’re making a big difference to the young people coming into our homes. We’re not only helping them but we’re improving our own lives. It’s an extraordinary role.”
Jo added:
“To anyone who’s thinking about fostering I would say pick up the phone or send us an email, because we can answer all your questions and we’d love you to come on board.”
Foster Portsmouth offers different types of fostering to suit each individual fostering household, providing full training and allowances.
New Belong Hub
A new ‘Belong Hub’ has just launched looking for new carers to look after a young person with a therapeutic need. It’s open for people who work or have experience of care, or a background in early years, youth work, social care, health or education. It is a professional role and pays a professional fee of £1,000 a week, or £52,000 a year with most carers exempt from paying tax.
Foster Portsmouth is run by Portsmouth City Council and Cllr Nicholas Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said:
“Our mission is for more local children to be cared for by local foster carers living in Portsmouth. At the moment, that’s not always possible, and some children have to live out of this area because of a lack of local options. So we need to recruit more foster carers so children in our care get the stability they need of staying in their community.”
Find out more by calling 0330 1312797 or by visiting: https://foster.portsmouth.gov.uk/
Other drop-in events:
- Wednesday 13 May, 11am-3pm, Waitrose Havant
- Tuesday 19 May, 11am-1pm, Tesco North Harbour
- Friday 22 May, 11am-1pm, Waitrose Southsea
- Sunday 24 May, 7.7.45pm, virtual cuppa with carer