Celebrating Kent’s Foster Children at a Special Gala Evening
Over 100 children and young people in foster care from across Kent came together recently for a special evening of celebration.
Over 100 children and young people in foster care from across Kent came together recently for a special evening of celebration, recognising their achievements and highlighting the powerful difference foster care can make.
Hosted by ISP Fostering, the event welcomed 130 children alongside their foster parents, siblings, and staff from the agency.
Hosted by ISP Fostering, the event welcomed 130 children alongside their foster parents, siblings, and staff from the agency. Every child was nominated for an award across categories including academic success, sports, independence skills, and community involvement. The aim was simple but powerful: to uplift and empower children in care by showcasing their efforts and giving them the recognition they truly deserve.
Alison Capp, Registered Manager at ISP Teynham, said:
“Events like this are so important for children and young people in care. They provide the opportunity for recognition and validation, helping to boost self-esteem and instil a sense of pride.
“Celebrating achievement is so important for all children, but especially children in care who often need extra reassurance. Events like this, which showcase their achievements no matter how big or small, reinforce the message that their efforts matter and they are doing the best they can. That’s a really powerful message for children and young people in care.”
Children and young people also had the chance to nominate their foster families for awards, shining a light on the invaluable role foster parents play every day.
Foster parents shared their appreciation for the event. One said:
“It was such a fantastic night that you had put together for us all. The atmosphere was brilliant. It felt special, like a family-type party.”
Another added:
“It was amazing! It was wonderful to see the young people spending time together and enjoying themselves.”
Following the success of the evening, ISP has confirmed that the event will now become an annual celebration—recognising foster children, foster parents, and children who foster, right across Kent.
Across the UK, there are over 83,000 children in care. Almost 12,000 of those are in the South East, with nearly 2,000 in Kent alone. These numbers are likely to have increased since the latest data was released by location.
ISP Fostering is the UK’s leading therapeutic fostering agency and works closely with local authorities in Kent to provide stable, nurturing homes for vulnerable children and young people. The agency is currently recruiting foster parents across the region to help make a life-changing difference.
To learn more about fostering with ISP in Kent, visit ispfostering.org.uk/offices/teynham or call 0800 0857 989.