Northumberland launches first Children’s Home Fortnight to thank dedicated carers

02 Jul 2025

Northumberland County Council is proud to launch its first Children’s Homes Fortnight. 

The two-week event celebrates the life-changing impact of the teams working in our homes across Northumberland and the wider North East. 

Running from Monday 30 June to Sunday 13 July, staff, children and young people in our children’s homes will take part in special activities and share their news across the council’s social media channels. 

The initiative was first inspired by a care-experienced young person from Sunderland who wanted to thank her carers. What began as a personal gesture of gratitude, has grown into a region-wide celebration that shines a powerful spotlight on the vital role residential care workers play in the lives of some of our most vulnerable children. 

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member for Inspiring Young People, said: “Children’s Homes Fortnight is a celebration of the people who show up every day for the young people they care for providing support, guidance, and commitment. These teams build life-changing relationships, provide safe and nurturing homes, and help children develop confidence and independence.    

“As a council, we want to thank them, celebrate them, and shine a spotlight on the vital role children’s homes play in shaping young peoples’ future. 

“Northumberland’s Children’s Services is rated outstanding by Ofsted, making it one of the best in the country.  

“All our homes are rated as good and are recognised for the life-changing difference they make.This success is down to our caring and dedicated staff who are the heart of our homes. 

“We are proud of our homes, proud of our staff, and proud of the young people they support. They are part of their communities and help young people thrive in it.” 

Northumberland County Council provides a range of residential services for children who cannot live at home, either for long or short periods.  

The majority of care-experienced children stay with our foster families. But for some children, a residential home may be the best environment in which they can be supported by specially trained staff to reach their potential.  

The Council continues to invest in recruiting more foster carers and opening more children’s homes so that more young people can grow up safe and cared for in their local community. 

Adam Hall, children’s services manager for residential and support services, said: “After 30 years of working in children’s homes, I’m incredibly proud to see us dedicating two full weeks to honour the amazing people who make this work possible.  

“Their passion, dedication, and unwavering support for children and young people are finally getting the recognition they truly deserve. 

“Our children’s homes are like any other family home. Children go to school or college, come home, have tea, do their homework and then enjoy a range of other activities. 

“Our teams have a brilliant mix of skills, talents and life experience that they love to share with young people. 

“We will be launching another recruitment drive soon as we continue to expand our team and would love to hear from anyone who may want to find out more about the many rewards a career in care can bring. 

“We also hope that by sharing stories from everyday life in our homes, we can create more understanding about their roles in our communities.” 

As part of the celebrations, a number of the team were presented with long-service awards.

Among them is Eileen Gray, Eileen worked as a childminder before discovering a new career in children’s residential care and now manages our latest home.

She said: “For me the most rewarding thing is when you go out with the children and for that first time you do something they've never done before or experienced before.  

“For example, coming back one night from the woods, we saw an owl and a shooting star and those moments were just magical as that child had never experienced that before." 

Keep an eye on social media throughout the fortnight as Northumberland shares stories, successes, and promotes appreciation for those who make a lasting difference in young peoples’ lives. 

Follow the campaign on the Northumberland Facebook page #ChildrensHomesFortnight #ShapingFuturesNorthumberland