When people look around Foster Fest, they'll see children laughing, families making memories, music filling the air and activities around every corner.
What they probably won't see are the months of planning, the hundreds of conversations, the evenings spent writing funding bids, the businesses who donated equipment, the organisations who immediately said "yes", the volunteers giving up their weekends, and the performers who wanted nothing more than to make a child smile.
Foster Fest was created for one simple reason - Every child deserves to feel like they belong.
For children with care experience, life hasn't always been straightforward. Many have experienced uncertainty, loss or change at a very young age. Foster Fest was never designed to simply be another family fun day. It was created to give our fostering community something that belonged entirely to them. A place where children, foster carers, kinship carers, supported lodgings providers, adopters and everyone who supports them could come together, relax, laugh, meet new friends and create happy memories together.
Every activity has been chosen with care.
Every conversation has been about what our children would enjoy.
Every pound has been spent as wisely as possible to make sure as many activities as possible are free for our families.
But none of this would have happened without an extraordinary community standing behind us.
Before we tell you about the amazing people involved, we simply want to say thank you.
Whether you've donated funding, reduced your prices, volunteered your time, travelled across Yorkshire, sponsored an activity, loaned equipment, shared your expertise or simply believed in what Foster Fest is trying to achieve, you have become part of something much bigger than a festival. You have become part of our children's story.
Our Gold Sponsor
There are some organisations whose generosity changes what is possible.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Allam in the Community, whose incredible support as our Gold Sponsor has helped make Foster Fest a reality.
Their generosity has funded much of the essential infrastructure that visitors will never really notice, but without it, there simply wouldn't be a festival. From the marquee and stage to the sound system and technical equipment, their investment has provided the foundations that everything else has been built upon.
For many years the Allam family has supported healthcare, education and charitable organisations across our region, helping improve opportunities for local people through innovation, education and community partnerships.
Their commitment to Hull continues to make an enormous difference, and we are incredibly proud that they have chosen to support Hull's fostering community in such a meaningful way.
From everyone at Hull Fostering, thank you.
Our Silver Sponsor
A festival designed around children also has to be a festival designed around safety, fun and wellbeing.
That is exactly why we are so grateful to CHCP Foundation, whose generosity as our Silver Sponsor has helped fund activities across the day, including our hugely anticipated foam party and the professional first aid provision that helps keep everyone safe.
CHCP Foundation exists to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities, supporting projects that help people thrive. Their values align perfectly with everything Foster Fest hopes to achieve, creating opportunities where children and families can simply enjoy spending time together.
Their kindness will create smiles that last long after the music has finished.
Our Bronze Sponsor
Technology opens doors.
It inspires creativity, builds confidence and helps young people discover talents they never knew they had.
Thanks to the incredible support of KCOM, Foster Fest will include an exciting Digital Zone packed with opportunities for children and young people to explore technology in fun and creative ways.
From DJ equipment and interactive experiences to digital creativity and new skills, KCOM's sponsorship will give our young people the chance to discover something new.
As one of Hull's longest established companies, proudly serving local communities for well over a century, KCOM continues to invest in opportunities that help local children and young people thrive, both online and offline.
We are incredibly grateful that they are helping inspire the next generation.
A very special thank you to Kingston Sports CIO
Finding a venue wasn't simply about finding enough space.
It had to feel welcoming.
It had to allow children the freedom to play safely.
It had to become somewhere our fostering community could make memories together.
That is why we are so grateful to Kingston Sports CIO, whose generosity in allowing us to use their facilities has made Foster Fest possible.
Kingston Sports CIO works tirelessly to encourage healthier, happier communities through sport, recreation and community engagement. Their commitment to creating opportunities for local people perfectly reflects everything Foster Fest stands for.
Thank you for believing in our vision from the very beginning.
Of course, no festival would be complete without entertainment.
Throughout the day our families will be treated to music, laughter, creativity and unforgettable experiences, all thanks to an incredible line up of performers and activity providers who have generously agreed to be part of Foster Fest.
Gary Jennison Comedy
Prepare for plenty of laughter.
Award winning comedian Gary Jennison will be bringing his trademark energy, audience participation and family entertainment to Foster Fest. Expect dance offs, games, comedy, magic and lots of surprises as Gary gets children, carers and even a few brave adults involved in the fun.
Gary has built a fantastic reputation for creating high energy performances that leave audiences smiling, and we can't wait to welcome him to our stage.
Yorkshire Sound Service
Behind every great performance is a brilliant technical team.
A huge thank you goes to Yorkshire Sound Service, whose expertise will ensure every performer sounds fantastic throughout the day.
From microphones and music to lighting and stage production, their professionalism allows everyone else to shine.
Music that brings people together
Music has an incredible way of bringing people together.
It creates memories.
It gets people dancing.
It helps strangers become friends.
Throughout Foster Fest our performers will be creating exactly that atmosphere, providing the soundtrack to a day our families will remember for years to come.
Whether families stop to sing along, dance together or simply enjoy listening while children play nearby, our talented performers are giving their time and talent to help make Foster Fest feel truly special.
To every singer, musician, performer and entertainer who has agreed to be part of this year's event, thank you.
You are helping create moments our children will never forget.
In the next part of this feature, we'll introduce the incredible organisations who are bringing hands on activities, science, sport, wellbeing, creativity, animals, sensory experiences and learning opportunities to every corner of Foster Fest, helping create a festival where every child can discover something they'll love.