More than 60 foster and kinship carers, children and young people enjoyed a fun day out at Whipsnade Zoo for Central Bedfordshire Council’s annual fostering summer picnic.
The event brought together experienced foster carers, those who are new to fostering and carers who are soon to be approved, giving families an opportunity to enjoy a day out and meet others who share similar experiences.
For some of the children, the playground proved just as exciting as the animals. One carer said:
Give them a swing and they’ll happily play. Made me smile – I think we have only seen birds, no animals at all!
Another said:
Thank you for the zoo trip. It was a lovely day out and nice to meet a couple of other carers too.
The annual picnic is one of a number of opportunities throughout the year for foster and kinship families to meet, alongside the ongoing advice, training and support provided by the council’s Fostering Team.
Councillor Gareth Mackey, our Executive Member for Children and Families at Central Bedfordshire Council, joined families at the picnic. He said:
It was fantastic to spend time with some of our foster and kinship families at Whipsnade and see the strength of the community that has grown around them.
Foster carers do an incredibly important job, opening their homes and providing children and young people with the stability, care and support they need. We want our carers to feel supported too, and bringing families together gives them the chance to build friendships, share experiences and know there are other people around them who understand the rewards and challenges of fostering.
Families were able to enjoy the day with discounted tickets provided through Whipsnade Zoo’s Community Access Scheme, which helps community groups and organisations access the zoo at a reduced rate.
Central Bedfordshire Council provides foster carers with support throughout their fostering journey, from assessment and approval to ongoing training and support.
Interested in finding out more about fostering with Central Bedfordshire Council, head to our fostering webpages.