Making the decision to foster a child is a huge commitment, but one which can be deeply rewarding. As a foster carer, you have the opportunity to provide safety, stability and love to a child who needs it most. You are not just offering a spare room — you are changing a life, and in many cases, your own life too.
Start Your Journey → Why Foster?
Children enter the care system for many reasons, but most commonly because they have been exposed to some form of abuse, neglect, family breakdown or loss. These are some of the most vulnerable children in our society, and they deserve a safe, stable and nurturing home where they can heal, grow and reach their potential.
Foster carers take on the responsibility of looking after a child who has been separated from their birth parents or family. It is up to the foster carer to make their foster child feel safe and secure and help them develop and learn in a supportive environment. Without enough foster carers, children may be placed far from their schools, friends and communities, or in settings that cannot meet their needs.
Every year, the demand for foster carers increases, yet thousands of existing carers retire or leave the profession. The national shortage is real, and every new foster carer makes a genuine difference.
Fostering is not just about what you give — it is about what you gain too
You have the power to give a vulnerable child the safety, stability and love they need to thrive. Many foster children go on to lead happy, successful lives because someone believed in them.
By fostering a child from your local area, you help keep them close to their school, friends and community. You are directly supporting the most disadvantaged children in your region.
Foster carers receive comprehensive, ongoing training in areas like child development, attachment, safeguarding and therapeutic care. Many carers describe fostering as the most rewarding professional development of their lives.
Foster carers receive a weekly fostering allowance that is largely tax-free. Many independent agencies offer between £400 and £700 per week, depending on the age of the child and placement type.
You are never on your own. Agencies provide a dedicated social worker, out-of-hours support, peer networks and regular supervision to help you through every challenge and celebration.
Fostering brings new experiences, perspectives and connections to your whole family. Many foster carers say it brought them closer together and gave them a stronger sense of purpose.
There is a significant and growing shortage of foster carers across the UK. Over 9,000 new foster families are needed every year just to keep up with demand, and the gap is widening as experienced carers retire or move on.
This shortage means that some children are placed in homes far from their schools and communities, siblings are separated, and some children end up in more expensive residential care settings when a loving foster family would be far more appropriate.
By becoming a foster carer, you directly help address this shortage in your local area. Whether you can offer short-term emergency care, long-term stability, or specialist support for teenagers or children with disabilities, there is a type of fostering that fits your skills and circumstances.
Over 9,000 new foster families needed every yearChildren need carers in every region of the UKAll types of fostering are in demand
One of the most important things to understand about fostering is that you are never on your own. From the moment you are approved, your agency provides comprehensive, ongoing support designed to help you and the child thrive.
Every foster carer is allocated a dedicated supervising social worker who visits regularly, provides guidance, and is your first point of contact for any questions or concerns. On top of that, most agencies offer 24/7 out-of-hours support so you always have someone to call.
You will also receive ongoing training throughout your fostering career, covering topics like therapeutic parenting, managing challenging behaviour, supporting education, and working with birth families. Many agencies also provide peer support groups, foster carer forums and annual events.
Dedicated supervising social worker24/7 out-of-hours telephone supportOngoing training and peer support networks
When a child has come from turbulent or unsafe conditions at home, it is vital to create the right environment in their new placement. As a foster carer, you are responsible for providing the warmth, security and stability a young person needs to learn, develop and begin to heal.
This does not mean you need to be perfect. It means being patient, consistent and willing to learn. Many children in care have experienced trauma, and they need carers who can offer routine, predictability and unconditional support while they process difficult emotions.
Our whole community of foster carers, agencies and support professionals is dedicated to the wellbeing of children in care. It is a collective effort, and as a foster carer, you are at the heart of it.
Yes. The vast majority of foster carers describe fostering as one of the most rewarding things they have ever done. Seeing a child arrive feeling anxious and unsettled, and then watching them gradually build confidence, trust and happiness, is deeply fulfilling. It is not always easy, and there are challenging days, but the impact you make on a child's life is profound and lasting.
Many carers also say that fostering has enriched their own lives in unexpected ways, bringing new skills, friendships, perspectives and a stronger sense of purpose to their family.
Most carers describe it as the most rewarding thing they have doneWatching a child grow in confidence is deeply fulfillingEnriches your own life in unexpected waysNo, you do not need any formal qualifications or professional experience with children. While experience can be helpful, what matters most is your personal qualities — patience, empathy, resilience and a genuine desire to help a child. Many successful foster carers come from all walks of life and had no prior childcare experience.
Your fostering agency provides comprehensive training before and after approval, covering everything from child development to managing challenging behaviour. You are supported every step of the way.
No formal qualifications or experience requiredPersonal qualities matter mostFull training provided before and after approvalFostering will affect your family, and in most cases the impact is overwhelmingly positive. Many foster families report that it brought them closer together, taught their children empathy and resilience, and gave the whole household a stronger sense of purpose. Your own children can benefit from the experience of welcoming someone new into the family.
That said, fostering is a big commitment and it is important that everyone in the household is supportive. Your agency will involve your whole family in the assessment process and provide ongoing support for your own children as well as the foster child.
Most families report a positive impactYour children can gain empathy and resilienceAgencies support your whole family, not just the carerEvery foster carer has challenging days, and agencies understand this. That is why comprehensive support is built into the role from day one. You will have a dedicated social worker, access to 24/7 telephone support, regular training, and peer networks of other carers who understand exactly what you are going through.
If a particular placement is not working, your agency will work with you to find solutions. Fostering is a professional role with professional support, and no carer is ever expected to cope alone.
Challenging days are normal and expectedComprehensive support is built into the roleNo carer is ever expected to cope aloneYes. There are many different types of fostering and you can choose the type that best fits your skills, experience and circumstances. Options include short-term fostering, long-term fostering, emergency care, respite care, parent and child placements, and specialist therapeutic care for children with complex needs.
During your assessment, you will discuss the types of fostering you are interested in and the age range of children you feel best suited to care for. Your approval terms will reflect these preferences.
Many types of fostering to suit different lifestylesYou discuss preferences during assessmentApproval terms reflect your skills and preferences