Saturday 16 May
We’re excited that Reading Fostering Service will be at the University of Reading’s Centenary Community Festival and we’d love for you to stop by and say hello.
The festival takes place on Saturday 16 May 2026, 12-5pm, on the beautiful Whiteknights campus. Entry is free and open to everyone, with a packed programme of live music, workshops, research talks, sports, street food, and much more.
Fostering: Then and now
Our stand will be exploring the fascinating, sometimes surprising – and definitely heart-wrenching – history of fostering, from its early roots a century ago to what it looks like for children and foster families today.
Then
In the early twentieth century, children in care had very few legal protections and little say in the decisions made about them. Placements were often informal, with little support offered to the families taking children into their home and children often very badly mistreated and abused.
Now
A lot has changed in 100 years. Today, fostering is a carefully supported, child-centred service. Foster carers receive proper financial support, ongoing training, professional guidance and a dedicated support network. And the voices and choices of children and young people are at the heart of everything we do.
Come and browse our display, pick up information, and have a chat with our friendly team about what modern fostering in Reading looks like. Whether you’re curious about the history, considering fostering yourself, or simply want to learn more, we’d love to meet you.
Join us!
The University of Reading’s Community Festival is a wonderful celebration of 100 years of the university’s place in our town, and we’re very proud to be part of it. Come find us among the stalls on campus and discover how fostering has shaped, and continues to shape, the lives of children in our community.
📍 Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading
📅 Saturday 16 May 2026 | 12-5pm
🎟️ Free entry – all welcome
Find out more about the festival at reading.ac.uk/community-festival.
Interested in fostering?
Get in touch with Reading Fostering Service to find out how you could make a difference to a child’s life in 2026.
Email: info@lafosteringse.org.uk
Call: 0300 131 2797
Enquire online: Enquiry form