Artwork by children in Leeds foster families will shine bright at Light Night

Drawings created by the children to capture their favourite summer memories of foster family life have been transformed into colourful neon rope light displays for the annual city centre festival, which takes place on October 28 and 29.

The poignant pieces were chosen from entries into a Foster 4 Leeds’ Summer Drawing Challenge and depict moments such as feeding the ducks, playing in the park, a day at the beach and a holiday sunset.

The four lights will be installed on lampposts along Cookridge Street and will remain on display beyond the two-day event to form part of the city’s Christmas illuminations this year.

The project marks a new partnership between the Leeds City Council fostering service and Light Night Leeds, which attracts around 200,000 people to the city centre each year.

It is also the first time the council’s in-house lighting design and manufacturing department, Leeds Lights, has created an installation for the annual festival, which has become a staple in the city’s events diary.

This year’s Light Night theme is ‘A City Speaks…’ exploring the stories, people and places that have shaped Leeds and featuring over 40 artworks by artists from the city as well as the UK and internationally.

The Foster 4 Leeds displays will be accompanied by a QR code for visitors to find out more about fostering in the hope of raising awareness of the vital role and help meet the ever-growing need to recruit more foster carers across the city.

One of the pieces was created by a young person who is cared for by Marie Procter, a foster carer of 36 years.

The child, who cannot be identified, revisited a memory from their summer holiday in Croatia to draw a beach scene with palm trees, sea and sunshine.

Marie, 58, said: “The drawing challenge was a great activity. It gave the children an opportunity to look at what they had done over the summer and what was really important to them.

“Croatia was a fantastic trip. It was our first holiday together and it gave us lots of opportunities to do things together. It was a safe place to try new things like jumping off boats and going into the sea.

“It was amazing to see them really grow and flourish. It was really special – it’s a memory that keeps being brought up so I know it meant a lot to them.”

Marie is also a hub home carer for a mockingbird hub – a network of local foster families who benefit from her support and guidance – which includes other children whose work will also form part of the light display.

She said: “They are all really excited to go and see the lights. This goes beyond any prize – it’s something that they’ve created that they get to see and know everyone is also going to see.”

Leeds currently has 700 carers but more people are urgently needed to give children a safe and stable home.

No special qualifications are required to be a foster carer. Prospective carers just need to be over 21, have a spare room and can offer a safe, caring home.

Marie added: “I would definitely recommend foster caring. I think it’s amazing – the children are amazing. It’s so worthwhile.

“If people can come forward and learn more about fostering and all the different ways you can be involved – it doesn’t have to be a full-time commitment. If you have all the information, you could be able to make that choice and that leap into fostering.”

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be able to link our foster families up with such a spectacular event as Light Night Leeds and to literally see the children’s artwork go up in lights will be magical.

“It’s been lovely to see their drawings and the special memories that clearly mean so much to the children and their foster families.

“Becoming a foster carer offers the opportunity to truly transform a young child’s life, by providing a safe, home environment and the chance to thrive.

“Children do their best living in family settings and we offer a range of fostering options and opportunities, with support every step of the way.”

To find out more about fostering in Leeds, visit https://foster4.leeds.gov.uk/.

Light Night Leeds is organised and delivered by Leeds City Council, with additional funding from Arts Council England, alongside support from sponsors, trusts and foundations based in Leeds, the UK and internationally.

For details of the full Light Night Leeds programme, visit www.lightnightleeds.co.uk.

ENDS

 

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