What an incredible year it’s been! Back in October, we were so proud to host our Banya Breakthrough Awards 2025 in Manchester and London — two unforgettable celebrations of our amazing young people in care.
The Breakthrough Awards is one of our favourite times of the year and they’re a chance for foster families across England to get together and recognise how far our young people have come. Not only do we celebrate the strengths of our young people, we also aim to remind our foster carers, care-leavers, families, and staff that we truly belong to something special.
Why We Celebrate
The Breakthrough Awards are about empowerment and pride — shining a light on achievements big and small, from educational milestones and creative talents to community contributions and personal growth.
The awards for this year were for: Best Participation, Educational Achievement, Talented Individuals, Outstanding Contribution to Fostering, Outstanding Contribution to Community, Punctuality and Attendance and Exceptional Progress. Each award reminds us what it means to be part of Banya — connected, supported, and celebrated.
Inspiring Moments and Amazing Guests
Both events were bursting with energy, talent, and inspiration. We had some incredible speakers and performers who helped make the days truly special.
We were joined by Naomi and Natalie from Everyday Racism, who delivered such a powerful talk about finding your purpose. Our favourite takeaway from their speech was that “you don’t have to invent something to make a difference — you just need to find out who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what you want to contribute to the world.”
We also loved hearing from our Care-Experienced panel featuring Shimron Walters, Tyrone Haughton, Sekia Blye & Raspect Rebellion. Moderated by our brilliant young ambassadors, this session gave current young people in foster care the chance to ask real questions and hear honest advice from adults who have been there themselves.
And, of course, no Banya fostering event would be complete without some entertainment! DJ Furmzy kept the music flowing throughout the day, while Tyrone Haughton’s spoken word, Richard E Evan’s live reading and MissFaithee’s soulful performance brought the house down.
Celebrating Our Award Winners
Of course, the main reason we host these ceremonies is to recognise the achievements of our young people and their remarkable growth in confidence.
Each award was presented by one of our amazing guests, and every winner’s story reminded us why we, as a fostering agency, do what we do. Congratulations to everyone who received a trophy or a certificate.
When we weren’t celebrating on stage, there was still plenty to enjoy — from our arts and crafts table and face painting, to the delicious food and good company. And just for the extra touch, every young person received a gift bag with a voucher, book, and self-care items so no one left the ceremony empty handed.
Looking Forward
As we wrap up another year of Breakthrough Awards, we can’t help but feel proud — not just for our winners, but of every single young person who’s part of the Banya Fostering community.
To all our foster carers, staff, and supporters — thank you for continuing to make a difference. Here’s to another year of growth, celebration, and belonging!
