Adventure, Confidence and Connection: Recent Events With Three Circles Fostering
At Three Circles Fostering, we know that fostering is about more than offering a safe and loving home. It is also about helping children and young people feel included, supported, confident and connected.
That is why we regularly create opportunities for foster families to come together, take part in new experiences and build positive memories. Our recent events across Manchester, Sheffield, Yorkshire and the North West have been a wonderful reminder of the strength of our fostering community.
From a youth scavenger hunt around Manchester city centre to laser tag in Sheffield, paddleboarding at Manvers Lake and adventure activities at Manley Mere, our children, young people, foster carers and staff have been busy building confidence, friendships and shared experiences.
For families considering fostering, these events also show what support can look like beyond the home. When you foster with Three Circles, you become part of a wider community that encourages children and young people to grow, explore and feel they belong.
Why Community Events Matter in Foster Care
Children and young people in foster care often benefit from safe, structured opportunities to try new things, meet others and develop confidence at their own pace.
Our events are designed to be fun, inclusive and supportive, while also encouraging important life skills such as:
Confidence and self-esteem
Independence
Teamwork
Communication
Problem-solving
Resilience
Positive relationships
Social connection
Trust and belonging
For foster carers, these events offer a chance to spend quality time with the children they care for, meet other fostering families and feel part of a supportive network.
For children, they can be a chance to experience something new, make friends, enjoy time outdoors, overcome worries and create happy memories with the adults who care for them.
Connect Youth Event: Manchester City Centre Scavenger Hunt
Our Connect youth group recently took part in an interactive scavenger hunt around Manchester city centre. This event was carefully planned to encourage collaboration, problem-solving, independence and confidence in a real-world urban environment.
The young people started at Manchester Piccadilly Station, with some travelling into the city independently by train. This was a fantastic achievement and a positive step in developing practical travel skills.
From there, the group navigated their way through a series of Manchester landmarks and locations, including:
Manchester Piccadilly
The Vimto Bottle on Sackville Street
The Alan Turing statue and Monument Gardens
Chinatown
St Peter’s Square
The Science and Industry Museum
A Metrolink journey back towards Piccadilly
Archie’s, where the group finished with milkshakes and an informal debrief
The activity was set up as a treasure hunt, with clues and riddles sent through a dedicated WhatsApp group. Once the young people believed they had reached the correct location, they sent a group selfie as evidence before receiving their next clue.
This made the session fun, interactive and age-appropriate, while also encouraging young people to take the lead, make decisions and work together.
Connect Youth Event: Laser Tag in Sheffield
Our young people also enjoyed a Connect youth event in Sheffield, where they took part in laser tag.
This was a lively, exciting and enjoyable activity that gave the group another chance to spend time together, build peer relationships and have fun in a safe and supportive setting.
Laser tag encouraged:
Teamwork
Communication
Strategy and problem-solving
Confidence
Positive peer interaction
Friendly competition
Shared enjoyment
For children and young people in foster care, group activities can be especially meaningful. They provide opportunities to connect with others who may have similar experiences, build friendships and feel part of a wider community.
The Sheffield laser tag event was full of energy and laughter, and it gave our young people another positive experience to look back on.
Family Event: Manvers Lake, Yorkshire
We were also delighted to welcome fostering families to our family activity day at Manvers Lake and Nature Park in Yorkshire, delivered in partnership with Manvers Waterfront Boat Club.
The purpose of the event was to provide foster families with an exciting, inclusive and adventurous outdoor water-based experience where children, carers and staff could build relationships, develop confidence and enjoy shared activities in a safe and supportive environment.
The event focused on:
Building positive relationships between children, carers and staff
Encouraging young people to try new activities
Supporting confidence and resilience
Promoting teamwork and communication
Creating opportunities for social interaction
Supporting physical and emotional wellbeing
Enjoying nature and outdoor activity
Providing a safe, inclusive family experience
A total of 56 people attended on the day!
Paddleboarding, Games and Shared Family Time
At Manvers Lake, families took part in stand-up paddleboarding sessions led by qualified instructors.
Many young people were trying paddleboarding for the first time. It was fantastic to see them listening carefully to instructions, encouraging one another and growing in confidence as they took on something new.
Off the water, children from different fostering families mixed well, played games and formed new connections. Foster carers also had the chance to chat, relax and spend time with others who understand the fostering journey.
Families gave overwhelmingly positive feedback. They particularly valued:
The chance to try a new activity
The supportive approach from instructors and staff
The relaxed outdoor setting
Opportunities for children to make friends
A balance of structured activity and informal family time
The chance to spend quality time together
The Manvers Lake event was a brilliant example of how shared activities can support confidence, wellbeing, relationships and community.
Family Event: Manley Mere, North West
Our family event at Manley Mere in the North West was another fantastic opportunity for fostering families to come together, enjoy the outdoors and take part in adventure-based activities.
Families enjoyed the Aquapark and Adventure Trail, making the most of the venue’s exciting outdoor facilities. The event gave children, young people and carers the chance to have fun, challenge themselves and spend quality time together in a relaxed and supportive environment.
The Aquapark offered a lively water-based experience where children and carers could climb, balance, splash, laugh and support one another through the different obstacles. For many children, activities like this provide a safe way to build confidence, develop resilience and experience the joy of trying something adventurous with trusted adults nearby.
The Adventure Trail added another layer of challenge and exploration. Families were able to work together, encourage each other and enjoy being active outdoors. These kinds of activities are not only fun; they also help children practise problem-solving, perseverance, teamwork and communication.
The Manley Mere event supported:
Confidence-building through adventurous play
Positive shared experiences between children and carers
Trust and relationship-building
Teamwork and encouragement
Outdoor physical activity
Emotional wellbeing through fun and connection
Opportunities for children to mix with others in the fostering community
One of the most valuable parts of events like Manley Mere is seeing children and young people step outside their comfort zones in a safe and supported way. Whether they were tackling the Aquapark, exploring the Adventure Trail or cheering each other on, the day created lots of opportunities for connection and achievement.
For foster carers, the event also offered a chance to enjoy a memorable day with the children they care for while connecting with other fostering families. This sense of community is central to how Three Circles Fostering supports carers across the North West, Midlands and Yorkshire.
What These Events Show About Fostering With Three Circles
For families thinking about becoming foster carers, it is natural to wonder what support will be available.
At Three Circles Fostering, support is not limited to training sessions or formal meetings. We believe foster families benefit from being part of an active, welcoming community where children, young people and carers can feel connected.
Our events are designed to help children and young people:
Feel included
Build positive memories
Develop confidence
Try new things safely
Strengthen relationships with carers
Meet other children and young people
Build independence
Feel part of a wider fostering family
They also help foster carers:
Meet other carers
Share experiences
Build supportive relationships
Enjoy quality time with children and young people
Feel part of the Three Circles community
See children grow in confidence through new experiences
Fostering can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Moments like these remind us why the right support, encouragement and community make such a difference.
Supporting Children Beyond the Everyday
Children and young people in foster care need safety, consistency and care. They also need opportunities to enjoy childhood, make friends, explore their interests and experience success.
These experiences matter because they help children and young people see themselves differently. They are not just being cared for; they are growing, learning, achieving and belonging.
Thinking About Becoming a Foster Carer?
If you are considering fostering, you may be asking yourself:
Will I be supported?
Will my family be part of a community?
Will the child in my care have opportunities to grow and thrive?
At Three Circles Fostering, the answer is yes.
We support foster carers across the North West, Midlands and Yorkshire with training, guidance, supervision, events and a strong sense of community. Our goal is to help foster families feel confident, connected and equipped to make a lasting difference.
You do not need to be perfect to foster. You need patience, commitment, warmth and the willingness to provide a safe and caring home for a child who needs one.
If you have a spare room and are thinking about fostering, we would love to speak with you.
Join Three Circles Fostering and become part of a supportive fostering community where children, young people and carers can grow together.
FAQ:
What support does Three Circles Fostering offer foster carers?
Three Circles Fostering offers training, supervision, guidance, family events, youth activities and opportunities for foster carers to connect with other fostering families across the North West, Midlands and Yorkshire.
Why are activities and events important for children in foster care?
Activities and events help children in foster care build confidence, make friends, try new things, develop independence and create positive memories with their foster families.
Can fostering families attend events together?
Yes. Three Circles Fostering organises family-friendly events where foster carers, children, young people and staff can come together in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.
Do foster carers receive community support?
Yes. Foster carers with Three Circles Fostering are part of a wider fostering community. This includes peer connection, social events, training and ongoing support from the agency.
How do I become a foster carer?
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, you can contact Three Circles Fostering to speak with the team, ask questions and learn more about the assessment process.
Thinking about fostering? Three Circles Fostering supports foster carers across the North West, Midlands and Yorkshire. Get in touch with our friendly team to find out more.