Friday 3 October 2025 will be remembered as a truly special evening, not just for the celebrations, but also for the resilience shown by everyone who made it to the event despite Storm Amy’s best efforts to stop us!
With trees down and roads blocked, 165 determined guests from across the fostering community gathered at the Dunadry Hotel to honour the incredible contribution that foster and kinship carers make to children’s lives. It was, as always, the best night of the year in Northern Ireland’s fostering world, filled with emotion, inspiration, and joy.
Celebrating Remarkable Carers
This year, 13 awards were presented to individuals and families who go above and beyond every day to provide love, stability, and support to children who need it most. We were also delighted to introduce a brand-new award category, Special Recognition in Kinship, celebrating the remarkable impact of kinship carers, including a truly inspirational single carer whose story touched everyone in the room.
A Night to Remember
Our new host for the evening, comedienne and BBC presenter Emer Maguire, kept the audience laughing and engaged throughout the night, creating an atmosphere full of warmth and celebration.
In addition to the awards, we held a charity raffle that raised over £1,100 to support our vital Kinship Service, a fantastic result and a reflection of the generosity within our fostering community.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, to our award winners and nominees, and to those who supported the event in any way.
Despite the stormy start, the Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards 2025 shone brighter than ever, a testament to the dedication, compassion, and community spirit that defines fostering in Northern Ireland.
