Surrey County Council Fostering Service

18/08/2026

🎉 We'll be there!

Looking for something to do this summer? Come along to the SFRS Open Day at Woodhatch Place and enjoy a fantastic day of family fun, activities and community displays.

📅 Friday 22 August
⏰ 11am to 3pm
🌟 Additional Needs and Disabilities Hour: 10am to 11am
📍 Woodhatch Place, 11 Woodhatch Road, Reigate RH2 8EF

The Surrey Fostering team will be there throughout the day, so if you've ever wondered about fostering, have questions about becoming a foster carer, or simply want to find out more about the support available to children and families in Surrey, come and say hello.

We'd love to meet you and talk about how you could make a difference close to home. 💙

Please note: 🚫 Dogs are not permitted at the event
🔊 Some displays may include loud or sudden noises
🚗 Limited parking is available on site

This Saturday is our biggest open day of the season! 🚒

So mark your calendars and get ready for a day full of exciting activities 🔥

This year's event will be full of live demonstrations, stalls and the chance to speak to our crews and explore our engines and equipment!

📅 Saturday 22nd August
⏰ 11am - 3pm (10am -11am Additional Needs and Disabilities Hour)
📍 11 Woodhatch Rd, Cockshot Hill, Reigate RH2 8EF (Surrey County Council building)

We hope to see you there!

🐶 Please note, while we love your furry friends, dogs aren't able to join us at our open days this year.

There may also be loud, sudden noises during our displays so please make sure little ears are protected where necessary.

Limited parking is available on site, please be aware of speedbumps upon entry.

18/08/2026

S is for Supported Lodgings

Supported Lodgings is different from fostering. Instead of acting as a parent figure, Supported Lodgings carers provide a safe home, guidance and practical support to help young people develop the skills they need for adult life. This might include learning to budget, cook, access education or employment, manage a tenancy and build confidence for the future.
It's all about helping young people take their next steps towards independence while knowing they have someone in their corner.

17/08/2026

R is for Respite

Respite care gives children the opportunity to enjoy a short stay or sleepover with another foster family, while giving their usual foster carers time to rest, recharge or manage other commitments. It's a valuable source of support that helps foster families stay strong and can contribute to stable, successful fostering arrangements.

Just like all families sometimes need a helping hand, respite is one of the many ways foster carers support one another as part of a wider fostering community.

17/08/2026

What if you don't feel completely ready?

The truth is, most people don't.

Making an enquiry doesn't mean you've decided to foster. It doesn't mean filling in forms tomorrow or welcoming a child next week.

It simply means having a conversation and exploring whether fostering could be right for you.

Many foster carers started exactly where you are now: curious, interested and full of questions.

You don't need all the answers before you pick up the phone.

Sometimes the first step is simply finding out more.

14/08/2026

Looking for creative ways to keep busy this summer?

Surrey Libraries are packed with craft activities for children, young people and adults. From comic book workshops and music crafts to knitting groups, mindfulness sessions, art workshops and family craft clubs, there's something for every age and interest. 🎨

Crafting isn't just fun. It helps build confidence, encourages creativity, develops problem-solving skills and provides opportunities to connect with others in your community.

Whether you'd like to design a board game, make a festival mask, learn to knit, create your own comic book or simply try something new, your local library could have the perfect activity waiting for you.

Take a look: https://orlo.uk/hksiz

What's your favourite craft or creative activity?

Details of regular and one off events and activities at Godalming Library. Including rhymetimes, community events and digital volunteer sessions.

14/08/2026

Q is for Qualifying Care Relief

Many people are surprised to learn that fostering has its own tax arrangements. Qualifying Care Relief is designed to recognise the unique role foster carers play, meaning most foster carers pay little or no tax on their fostering income. It's one of the many ways foster carers are supported while they provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for children and young people.

13/08/2026

🌟 How much do you really know about fostering?

Take on our Fostering Fortunes quiz and put your knowledge to the test!

✅ Learn fascinating facts about fostering
✅ Discover the impact foster carers make every day
✅ Challenge your friends and family
✅ Be in with a chance of winning a £100 Love2shop gift card

Whether you're curious about fostering or already know a little, this fun quiz could teach you something new.

🎮 Play now: https://orlo.uk/ESD6J

⏰ Competition closes 30 September.

13/08/2026

P is for Parent and Child Fostering

Parent and Child fostering helps parents develop the skills and confidence they need to care safely for their child. Foster carers provide day-to-day support, encouragement and practical guidance, while observing and recording how the parent responds to their child's needs. The aim is to give families the best possible chance of staying together where it is safe for them to do so.
Parent and Child foster carers can play a life-changing role at a crucial time in a family's journey, helping parents learn, grow and build strong foundations for the future.

12/08/2026

O is for Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills

Ofsted helps ensure fostering services provide safe, effective and high-quality support for children, young people and foster carers. Regular inspections look at how well services are performing and whether children are receiving the care, stability and support they need to thrive.
At Surrey, we're proud that our fostering service was rated Good by Ofsted, recognising the dedication of our foster carers and staff in helping children achieve positive outcomes.

✅💙

11/08/2026

If you don’t have eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer, you can use an indirect viewing method, which does not involve looking directly at the Sun. One way is to use a pinhole projector, which has a small opening (for example, a hole punched in an index card) and projects an image of the Sun onto a nearby surface. With the Sun at your back, you can then safely view the projected image. Do NOT look at the Sun through the pinhole!

You can make your own eclipse projector using a cardboard box, a white sheet of paper, tape, scissors, and aluminum foil. With the Sun behind you, sunlight will stream through a pinhole punched into aluminum foil taped over a hole in one side of the box.