Every child deserves a place where they feel safe, valued, and truly themselves. As we welcome Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, the theme “This Is My Place” invites us to stop and reflect on something fundamental to every child’s wellbeing: belonging. This theme, introduced by Place2Be for this year’s national campaign, emphasises how children thrive when they feel they are part of a stable, nurturing environment, whether that is a family, school, or community.

For children in foster care, belonging is a powerful protective factor for mental health. When a child can confidently say “This is my place,” it signals safety, connection, and trust. And those feelings can transform a child’s world.

Belonging shapes development, relationships, identity, and resilience. Feeling like a part of something contributes directly to improved confidence, reduced anxiety, stronger relationships, and better wellbeing.

We asked young people fostered with Time Out “What makes you feel good in your foster home?” Their answers are reminders of what belonging really looks like through a child’s eyes. One young person answered “Playing Lego with my sister and having a bedtime story and kiss.” This shows how daily routines like a bedtime story can give children a sense of comfort and connection, it’s these small everyday moments that remind children ‘I belong here’. 

Another young person answered, “Being trusted and loved.” Feeling trusted shows a child that adults believe in them, and feeling loved helps improve emotional wellbeing, showing children that they are deserving of care and stability. These two feelings are powerful building blocks of emotional wellbeing.

We also asked “Is there anything you wish your foster carer understood better about you?” and a young person replied “No, she is my mum.” Six words that express understanding, acceptance, and deep emotional connection. Six words that show they have found not just a ‘placement’, but a place.

These young people’s voices remind us that belonging is created through consistency, kindness, and everyday care. As an agency, we remain committed to supporting foster carers to build the loving, stable relationships that help children feel safe enough to say: “This is my place.”