'Magical': Artwork by children in Leeds foster care to go up in lights for Light Night 2026
Colourful drawings created by young people in foster care capturing their favourite summer memories have been turned into vibrant neon rope lights along Cookridge Street for Light Night Leeds
Children living in foster care across Leeds will see their artwork transformed into brilliant neon light displays for next week’s Light Night festival.
Selected from entries into Foster 4 Leeds’ Summer Drawing Challenge, the poignant pieces depict cherished memories of foster family life, including feeding the ducks, playing in the park, days at the beach, and holiday sunsets.
The neon rope light installations will be mounted on lampposts along Cookridge Street for the annual city centre festival on October 28 and 29, before remaining in place to form part of Leeds’ official Christmas illuminations this winter.
Created by the council’s in-house lighting design team, Leeds Lights, the project marks a special new partnership between the local authority’s fostering service and Light Night Leeds, which attracts around 200,000 visitors to the city each year.
"Beyond Any Prize": A Memory That Keeps Being Brought Up
This year's Light Night theme, 'A City Speaks…', explores the stories, people, and places that shape Leeds across more than 40 installations.
Accompanying the Foster 4 Leeds displays will be interactive QR codes, allowing visitors to scan and learn more about becoming a foster carer in the city.
One of the featured neon pieces was drawn by a young person cared for by Marie Procter, a local foster carer of 36 years.
The drawing revisits a memory from their first shared family holiday to Croatia, depicting a sun-soaked beach scene with palm trees and calm seas.
"The drawing challenge gave the children an opportunity to look at what they had done over the summer and what was really important to them," says Marie, 58, who also serves as a hub home carer for a local 'Mockingbird' support network of foster families.
"Croatia was a fantastic trip. It was our first holiday together and gave us 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’s a memory that keeps being brought up, so I know it meant a lot to them.
"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 else is going to see too."
Leeds urgently needs more foster carers
Leeds currently has 700 registered foster carers, but the council has issued an urgent call for more residents to step forward to meet the growing need for safe and stable homes.
No special qualifications are required to foster; prospective carers simply need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom, and be able to provide a safe, caring environment.
"I would definitely recommend foster caring," Marie adds. "The children are amazing, and it’s so worthwhile. It doesn’t have to be a full-time commitment either. If you have all the information, you can make 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.
“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 support every step of the way.”
Head down to Cookridge Street on October 28 and 29 to experience the free Light Night Leeds installations in person, and visit the official Light Night Leeds and Foster 4 Leeds websites to view the full festival map or learn more about fostering.