Stockton-on-Tees Fostering & Supported Lodgings

22/08/2026

🦆💛 Meet Hope! 💛🦆

We're all set up at the Tees Barrage Duck Race and ready for a fantastic afternoon of family fun!

Our duck, Hope, has been lovingly decorated by children in the care of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council as part of our "Every Feather Tells a Story" theme. Each colourful feather celebrates a unique child, their talents and the things that make them happy. 🌈✨

If you're at the Barrage today, we'd love your support. Keep an eye out for Hope on the duck trail and cast your vote for us! 🗳️🦆

While you're here, pop over to the Foster with North East stand for a chat about fostering and how you could help a child spread their wings and reach their potential.

And don't forget... the duck race starts at 3pm! 🏁💦

Come along, say hello, enjoy the entertainment and help raise money for some brilliant causes.

19/08/2026

🦆 We're Making a Splash at the Tees Barrage Duck Race!

This Saturday, 22 August, we will be at the Stockton-on-Tees Round Table Duck Race at the Tees Barrage White Water Course from 12pm onwards.

There'll be something for the whole family to enjoy, including:

🎵 Live music
🛍️ Over 30 local vendors
🎯 Games and activities
🦆 The famous duck race at 3pm
❤️ All raising money for some fantastic causes

Come and visit our Foster with North East stand and don't forget to look out for our special duck on the duck trail! Decorated with the help of children in our care, our duck follows the theme "Every Feather Tells a Story", with each feather uniquely designed to celebrate creativity, individuality and the stories that make us who we are.

Want to get involved in the race? Ducks are still available to buy, so there's still time to cheer your duck on and support some amazing local causes! 🦆https://square.link/u/uzcG1Ioi 🦆

We'd love to see you there, so bring your family and friends along for a fun-filled day by the water.

You'll be quackers to miss out!

18/08/2026

🔫💚The Kids Who Care Take Over Tazerz! 💚🔫

We had a fantastic afternoon at Tazerz for our latest Kids Who Care event, with laser tag, party food, slush drinks and plenty of fun!

Kids Who Care is part of our support offer for fostering families, giving the children of our fostering families the chance to get together, make friends and enjoy time with others who share similar experiences.

It was wonderful to see everyone getting involved and having such a great time. Congratulations to our top scorer, who took home the winner's certificate! 🏆

A big thank you to everyone who joined us.

16/08/2026

🏡 Meet Catherine: “Teenagers are not as difficult as people think.”

Catherine and her husband Dave have been fostering for 12 years and currently care for four young people, ranging from 12 to 18 years old.

When people think about fostering, many picture babies and young children. But for Catherine, fostering teenagers has become something she is incredibly passionate about.

One young person came to the family for what was supposed to be two weeks in an emergency. Within days, Catherine knew she belonged.

💬 "I said to my social worker, 'Don't look for anywhere else for her. She can come back here.' That was three years ago."

For Catherine, fostering teens is all about building trust, listening and helping young people find their place in the world.

💬 "It's not about having a go. We've all been teenagers. It's about having conversations, listening and helping them work things through."

Today, the young people in her care are thriving. One has learned to drive, has a job and is continuing his education. Another is about to start an apprenticeship after overcoming challenges at school.

The family enjoy holidays together, busy social lives, and plenty of time being a taxi service for teenagers and their friends.

Catherine believes many people are put off fostering teenagers because of misconceptions.

💬 "They're not difficult. They're just looking for their safe place, somewhere to call home."

And if one of her current young people moved on tomorrow?

💬 "I'd open our door to another teenager. I don't think I'd go back to little ones now."

For anyone considering fostering a teenager, Catherine's advice is simple:

💬 "Just do it. You'd be surprised. They're not as difficult as people think."

📢 We urgently need more foster carers in Stockton for teenagers.

If you've ever thought about fostering and would like to find out more, contact Foster with North East

🌐 www.fosterwithnortheast.org.uk
📞 0800 917 7771

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

16/08/2026

🏡 We're looking for two caring foster families for two local teenagers.

Could you help, or do you know someone who could?

Please tag them in the comments below or share this post to help us reach more people.💙

🏡 We're looking for two caring foster families for two local teenagers.

Two young people currently living in residential care in Stockton-on-Tees are ready to move into stable, supportive family homes where they can enjoy the experiences and relationships that family life can offer.

🧡 A little bit about them:

👦 A 13-year-old boy
• Enjoys ice skating
• Loves fishing
• Enjoys gaming on his XBOX
• Looks forward to cinema trips

👧 A 15-year-old girl
• Loves arts and crafts
• Enjoys watching Netflix
• Rarely far from her phone
• Enjoys going for walks (especially if there is a dog involved)

This is a specialist fostering opportunity with enhanced support, including:
✅ Full pre and post approval training delivered in Stockton-on-Tees or online
✅ Extended transition support from residential care
✅ Ongoing professional guidance and support

A professional fee of up to £350 per week, per child, plus the Government-recommended fostering allowance of up to £267 per week depending on age, giving total payments of up to £617 per week per child. Plus, additional allowances for clothing, mileage, summer holidays, birthdays and Christmas.

We welcome enquiries from experienced carers and people new to fostering who have worked with children and young people with complex needs.

👉 Could this be you? To find out more, visit:
🌐 www.fosterwithnortheast.org.uk
📞 0800 917 7771 for an informal, no-obligation chat.

Foster with North East | Stockton-on-Tees Fostering & Supported Lodgings

14/08/2026

Not every child thrives in residential care. Some simply need the warmth, routine and connections that come with family life. 💙

That's why we're raising awareness of the need for foster carers who can help teenagers move from residential care into a nurturing family home.

Find out more in the post below ⬇️

🏡 Could you help a child move from residential care to family life?

Some children and young people living in residential care could benefit from the opportunity to move into a stable, loving foster home where they can build lasting relationships, experience everyday family life and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

While residential care provides valuable support and safety, fostering can offer children the consistency, stability and family connections they need to thrive.

Every child deserves:
🧡 Someone to encourage them
🧡 A place to call home
🧡 Stability and consistency
🧡 The chance to thrive

As a specialist foster carer, you won't be expected to do it alone.

✅ Full training before and after approval
✅ Dedicated support from your local authority fostering team
✅ Planned transitions from residential care
✅ Ongoing professional guidance and support

💷 Foster carers supporting children moving from residential care can receive:
• Up to £577 per week for a child aged 11–15
• Up to £617 per week for a young person aged 16+
• Plus additional allowances for clothing, mileage, summer holidays, birthdays and Christmas.

Whether you're an experienced foster carer, or have professional or personal experience supporting children and young people with complex needs, our colleagues at Foster with North East would love to hear from you.

👉 Find out more at www.fosterwithnortheast.org.uk
📞 0800 917 7771

Stockton-on-Tees Fostering & Supported Lodgings

06/08/2026

What does life-changing look like? 💙

Join our online fostering information session to learn how you could provide a safe, supportive home for a local child.

📅 Tuesday 18 August | 6pm to 7pm
💻 Online via Teams

👉Register here:

https://www.digital.stockton.gov.uk/fostering-supportedlodgings-information-session

01/08/2026

🎭 Enjoying SIRF today? Make sure you stop by and visit us on our Foster with North East stand!

We're here chatting all things fostering, meeting families from across the region, and soaking up the fantastic festival atmosphere.🎪

Whether you're curious about fostering, want to pick up some information, or just fancy a friendly chat, come and see us.

📍 We'll be here until 3pm.

Who knows? You could be someone's rock. ❤️

28/07/2026

🐻 A Fantastic Mockingbird Roost at Beamish! 🚋🎨

Last week, 24 of our fostering families came together for a wonderful day out at Beamish Museum as part of the Mockingbird Roost, organised by The Fostering Network.

Families spent the day exploring the open-air museum, taking in the sights and sounds of the past, riding the famous tram and fairground rides, enjoying a picnic together in the sunshine and catching up with friends old and new.

One of the highlights of the day was a creative craft session, where children and adults worked together to design colourful bunting and create some fabulous outfits and accessories for a teddy bear mascot for each constellation. The finished creations were full of colour, imagination and messages of support, friendship and belonging - everything that Mockingbird represents. ❤️

The Mockingbird programme is all about building relationships, creating connections and ensuring fostering families have a strong support network around them. Days like these give families the opportunity to spend quality time together, share experiences and make lasting memories.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day one to remember 📸

28/07/2026

🎉 🌍 We're heading to SIRF! 🌍 🎉

This Saturday, 1 August, you'll find a Foster with North East stand at the fantastic SIRF (Stockton International Riverside Festival) in Stockton High Street!

Come along and say hello to Jen and Coral, ask any questions, pick up some branded merch to help us spread the word about fostering and discover how you could make a life-changing difference to a local child.

While you're enjoying the amazing street performances, music, and festival atmosphere, why not stop by our stand for a chat? Whether you're just curious about fostering or actively thinking about becoming a foster carer, we'd love to meet you.

📍 Stockton High Street
📅 Saturday 1 August
💙 Foster with North East