Fostering Events
Foster Care Fortnight 2026: Celebrating Our Life Changers in Fostering
11–24 May 2026.
Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest awareness-raising campaign for fostering — a time to recognise the people showing up for children every day.
At Compass Fostering, we call these adults Life Changers.
Because that’s exactly what being a foster parent means.
This Is Fostering
This year’s theme, “This is Fostering”, captures the full reality of fostering — the everyday joyful moments, but also the challenges, and the life-changing impact on children and families.
Real Life Changers. Real Stories
Throughout Foster Care Fortnight, we’re shining an important light on the work of our foster parents, showing what being a Life Changer actually looks like in practice.
💙 The Moments That Define a Life Changer
It’s the tiny moments that matter the most:
- – The very first time a child smiles
- – Hearing them say they “feel safe” with you
- – When confidence grows where there used to be fear
Our Life Changers in Action
From Nursing to Fostering: Yvette’s Story
When Yvette looks back over her life, caring for others has always been at its heart. What she never expected was a career she loved would quietly leading her towards another calling, one that would shape the lives of countless children and families for more than two decades. Read More
Can You Foster as a Single Person? Alison’s Story
Alison always knew she wanted to foster. After losing her husband, she found the courage to take the step she’d dreamt about for years, finally. Today, she’s a solo foster carer in Wales, and although she says she’s “a little bit older than everybody else”, fostering has brought her joy, purpose, and a new sense of family. Read More
Ex-Police Inspector Found Purpose in Fostering
After more than two decades in the MET working as a police Inspector, Robert Morgan never imagined he would one day become a foster carer. Yet, looking back, every step of his career, from serving on the front line to mentoring young people, helped prepare him for the life-changing role he now holds alongside his wife, Ann. Read More
Single Male Foster Carer: Ian’s journey
For Ian, fostering was a dream held quietly for many years, the kind of hope that stays with you, even when life gets busy. Three years ago, living in Wales and at a stage of life where many people begin to slow down, he finally permitted himself to pursue it. Today, he is a single foster carer with Compass, changing a young person’s life in ways big and small. Read More
From Classroom to Care: Menna’s Journey
After more than four years working in education, Menna knew what a difference a safe, nurturing environment could make to a child’s life. Having taught Humanities and Pastoral Care to secondary-aged students across both mainstream and special education, Menna had seen firsthand how much young people thrive when they’re given understanding, stability, and encouragement. Read More
From Infertility Struggles to Fostering Success: Ted and Tanya’s story
For Ted and Tanya, fostering has always been about creating the family they longed for. The couple met later in life and knew from the start that they wanted children. After several years together, they faced heartbreak when they struggled to conceive. IVF brought difficult times, and the journey took its toll. Read More
Fostering an Asylum-Seeking Child: Louise and Michael’s Story
When Louise and Michael began fostering with Compass in 2023, they didn’t expect their first long-term placement to be such a life-changing experience. The couple welcomed a young man from Afghanistan, an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child who had endured unimaginable trauma on his journey to the UK. Separated from his sisters on route and left without contact with his parents, he arrived in England alone, carrying the weight of profound loss. Read More
Sarah and Matthew's Unexpected Leap into Fostering
At the time, Matthew and his wife, Sarah were running their own inflatable hire business and had been providing equipment for the home’s event. That simple but heartfelt question stopped them both in their tracks. As Sarah recalls: “This was the day we decided to apply to become foster carers.” Read More
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It’s Not Always Easy, But It Always Makes a Difference
Of course, celebrating fostering means being honest about its realities.
Life Changers face many challenges, including:
- Supporting children with complex emotional needs
- Navigating systems that can often feel overwhelming
- Balancing the emotional demands of caring
But they never do so alone.
At Compass, we’re committed to making sure every Life Changer feels supported, valued and part of something bigger than themselves — with:
- Ongoing, specialist training
- 24/7 support
- A dedicated network of foster parents
- A team that listens and stands alongside you
After all, real life-changing work takes a community.
Standing Together for Change
Foster Care Fortnight is the perfect moment for the fostering community to come together — to celebrate, reflect and push for a better future for children in care.
We’re proud to stand with our Life Changers and support the wider movement to improve outcomes for children and foster parents.
Could You Be a Life Changer?
You don’t need to be perfect to foster.
You just need the commitment to make an impact.
Take the First Step Today
If you already feel that pull — that desire to do something meaningful — fostering could be your next big move.
With the right support, we can help you provide a safe, stable home and change a child’s future — starting today.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Fostering isn’t easy. But it’s one of the most important things you can do to transform the life of a child. If you’re ready to explore whether fostering could be right for you – and want to do it with a team that will have your back – we’d like to hear from you.
