TWO weeks of information events across the borough will start tomorrow (Monday, 12 May) when Thurrock Fostering marks Foster Care Fortnight, which runs until Sunday, 25 May.

In recent weeks Thurrock Nub News has highlighted the benefits of fostering and the impact it has had on local lives, with people who have been involved with fostering telling their stories.

Caroline told us how the time was right for her to make a huge difference to the lives of many borough children.

Dave and Rachel from Corringham told us how fostering has changed their family's life.

While Claire and Danny have shared about the things they have gained from being foster carers, which includes making a range of new friends.

And we brought you stories from a celebration event where Thurrock's foster carers and their support teams were honoured.

If you've ever been curious about becoming a foster carer, Foster Care Fortnight is the perfect opportunity to find out more.

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK's biggest foster care awareness raising campaign and aims to showcase the positive impact foster care and the need more foster carers.

Across the UK, thousands of foster carers open their homes to provide love, stability, and care to children and young people in need.

But many more foster carers are urgently needed to ensure every child can be matched with the right home for their individual needs.

That's why The Fostering Network is running its Foster Care Fortnight campaign - a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the incredible impact of foster care, and to inspire more people to consider becoming foster carers. It's also a chance to say a big thank you to all foster carers for their remarkable dedication. 

This year's theme, 'The Power of Relationships', celebrates the meaningful connections that transform lives.

Keep an eye out as starting from Monday, 12 May, Thurrock Council's Fostering team will be popping up at several shops, libraries and shopping centres across Thurrock to share more information around fostering and answer any questions you may have.

Check below to see when the fostering team will be near you.

Monday, 12 May 10am to 1pm

Aveley Library, Community Hub, High Street, Aveley, South Ockendon, RM15 4BX. (Drop-in)

Monday, 12 May 4pm to 7pm

c2c Chafford Hundred station, RM16 6QQ. (Drop-in)

Tuesday, 13 May 10am to 11:30am

Face to Face - Information event, Committee Room 1, Civic Offices, RM17 6SL

Tuesday, 13 May 1pm to 4pm

Purfleet Library, Community Hub, 53-54 River Court, Centurion Way, Purfleet-on-Thames, RM19 1ZY. (Drop-in)

Wednesday, 14 May 10am to 1pm

Tilbury Library/Hub, Civic Square, RM18 8AD. (Drop-in)

Wednesday, 14 May 2.30pm to 6:30pm

Impulse Leisure - Belhus, Belhus Park, Aveley, South Ockendon RM15 4PX. (Drop-in)

Wednesday, 14 May 2.30pm to 6:30pm

Impulse Leisure Blackshots, Blackshots Lane, Grays RM16 2JU. (Drop-in)

Thursday, 15 May 10am to 1pm

East Tilbury Library, Princess Avenue, RM18 8ST (Drop-in)

Thursday, 15 May 2.30pm to 5:30pm

Impulse Leisure Corringham, Springhouse Road, Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope, SS17 7NB (Drop-in)

Friday, 16 May 10am to 2pm

Asda, Thurrock Park Way, Tilbury RM18 7HJ. (Drop-in)

Saturday, 17 May 8am to 9:30am

Park Run, Orsett Heath, Heath Road, Chadwell-St-Mary, RM16 4XH. (Drop-in)

Saturday, 17 May 11am to 2pm

Sainsbury's, Howard Road, Chafford Hundred, RM16 6YJ.

Monday, 19 May 10am to 9pm

Lakeside Shopping Centre outside Primark on Level 2

Tuesday 20 May 7am to 9:30am

c2c Fenchurch Street station, on concourse at main entrance (Drop-in)

Tuesday 20 May 2pm to 4pm

Chadwell Library, Brentwood Road, RM16 4JP. (Drop-in)

Tuesday 20 May, 2pm to 4pm

Belhus Library, South Ockendon Centre, Derry Avenue, South Ockendon, RM15 5DX. (Drop-in)

Tesco, Lakeside, RM20 1TX.

Wednesday, 21 May 10am to 1pm

Corringham Library, St John's Way, SS17 7LJ. (Drop-in)

Wednesday, 21 May 2:30pm to 5:30pm         

Waitrose, 112-118 High St, Billericay CM12 9BY. (Drop-in)

Thursday, 22 May 10am to 3pm

John Lewis, 50 Bond St, Chelmsford CM1 1GD. (Drop-in)

Friday 23 May 10am to 2pm

Morrisons, London road, Grays, RM17 5XZ (Drop-in)