13th May 2026
HSC NI Foster Care was proud to co-launch Foster Care Fortnight™ in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, alongside The Fostering Network.
Attended by foster carers, care experienced young people, staff and supporters from across Northern Ireland, this event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our foster carers, reaffirm our commitment to do the best for our children and young people, and also encourage more people to come forward and consider fostering.
We were privileged to hear from young people with lived experience of foster care, a birth child of foster carers, along with a panel of foster carers.
We were also joined by Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, who paid tribute to all foster carers. He said: “Fostering is not abstract or theoretical, it happens every day, in real homes, with real families, supporting real children. Foster carers step in at moments of significant need and provide safety, stability and care when it matters most.
I want to thank foster carers across Northern Ireland for the commitment, resilience and compassion they bring to this role, often in very challenging circumstances. The impact of what you do for children and young people is profound.”
Robbie Butler MLA who also sponsored the event, kindly shared his experiences of being a foster carer.
Guests were also treated to incredible performances from young people which included a beautiful rendition of ‘A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes’, a young lady playing tin whistle with such flair, a piano recital from a young person who had only recently taken up playing and who blew us all away with ‘A Million Dreams’, as well as a performance by an epic young DJ who rocked the decks!
Kerrylee Weatherall, Director of Children’s Services in Belfast representing HSC NI Foster Care said: “We value each and every one of our foster carers and kinship foster carers who continue to go above and beyond to provide safety, stability and love that all our children and young people deserve.
This year’s theme of Foster Care Fortnight, ‘This is Fostering’ invites us all to shine a light on the everyday experiences of fostering – to recognise the real, lived moments that define what fostering truly is. Because fostering is not just about big milestones or headlines. It is about the quiet, consistent acts of care – early mornings, school runs, difficult conversations, shared laughter, and unwavering presence. It is about being there – every single day.
We also recognise that these everyday experiences do not exist without challenge.
This theme rightly acknowledges the pressures faced by foster carers in today’s climate – the realities of rising costs, increasing complexity of need, and at times feeling unheard or under-recognised.
And yet, despite these pressures, foster carers continue to show up, day after day, providing love, stability, and advocacy for the children in their care.
As we launch Foster Care Fortnight, let us use the days ahead to continue shining that light – to tell the stories that celebrate our foster carers, and to encourage others to step forward and be part of this vital community.”
To find out more about fostering with HSC NI Foster Care, call 0800 0720 137 or visit adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net.