Painting and Connection: Celebrating Foster Care Fortnight 2025
FCA Thames Valley proudly hosted Painting and Convo—a creative, connection-focused event held in celebration of Foster Care Fortnight 2025, whose theme this year is The Power of Relationships.
The national campaign highlights the vital role that relationships play in fostering whether it’s the bond between foster parents and children, or the connections built between fostering families, staff, and the wider community. Embracing this year’s theme, the session brought together young people, foster parents, and team members for an afternoon filled with creativity, conversation and connection.
Kate Knight, Registered Manager at FCA Thames Valley, shared her reflections on the day:
“What a great session we had. It’s so important to create space where people can connect beyond the usual day to day conversations. Events like this really highlight the power of relationships something that sits at the heart of fostering. Seeing our young people, foster parents, and staff all coming together, laughing, creating and talking openly was incredibly special. These moments help to strengthen the bonds that make our fostering community so resilient and supportive. It’s a reminder that sometimes the simplest activities can lead to the most meaningful connections.”
The session was expertly facilitated by Isabella Knight-Worrall, who guided attendees through a series of reflective and engaging activities. It began with three icebreaker questions about the past, present, and future, encouraging everyone to share and listen. This was followed by a lively two-minute “speed sketch” of the person sitting next to them, and then a name-draw round where participants painted portraits of a randomly chosen person resulting in relaxed conversations, laughter, and the forming of new connections.
The day concluded with a shared lunch symbolically “breaking bread” together an idea suggested by FCA rep Nichola. It served as a fitting end to a day focused on unity, reflection and relationship-building.
Fostering Fortnight is about recognising and celebrating the everyday moments that shape the fostering journey. Painting and Convo was a shining example of how creativity and conversation can bring people together and strengthen the powerful relationships at the heart of fostering.
Building Bonds
The day concluded with a shared lunch symbolically “breaking bread” together an idea suggested by FCA rep Nichola. It served as a fitting end to a day focused on unity, reflection, and relationship-building.
Fostering Fortnight is about recognising and celebrating the everyday moments that shape the fostering journey. Painting and Convo was a shining example of how creativity and conversation can bring people together and strengthen the powerful relationships at the heart of fostering.
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