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What fostering is and how you can make a difference
Fostering is providing a safe, caring and stable home for a child, young person or sibling group when they cannot live with their birth family. Foster carers become a trusted, supportive presence, helping children feel valued, respected and part of everyday family life, from school nights to days out and celebrations.
Children and young people come into foster care for many reasons, including family illness, relationship breakdowns, parental substance misuse or when they have been harmed or neglected. Foster carers play a vital role in giving these children a secure environment where they can thrive.
Life with a foster family can be for just a few days, several months or many years; this depends on each child’s needs and their Care Plan, agreed with the local authority.
Types of fostering arrangements
Every type of fostering is important, and your home could offer one of many kinds of support:
Short Breaks Care
Children stay for short periods, giving families and long-term carers a planned break.
Emergency Fostering
Children needing a safe home at very short notice.
Short-Term Fostering
A temporary home until a child can return home or move to long-term care.
Sibling Groups
Keeping brothers and sisters together whenever possible.
Unaccompanied Minors
Support for young people new to the UK with no guardian.
Long-Term or Permanent
Ongoing care until adulthood (and sometimes beyond).
Parent and Child
Time-limited support to help families stay together.
Children with Disabilities
Specialist care for children with additional needs.
Who can foster?
We welcome carers from all walks of life. What matters most is your commitment and ability to provide a safe, nurturing home, not a specific background or family structure.
To get started, you should:
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Have a spare bedroom for a child
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Be aged 21 or over (there’s no upper age limit)
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Ideally have some experience with children or young people
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Be a British citizen or have Leave to Remain in the UK
Whether you’re single, married, or in a couple, with or without children, there’s no “perfect” person we’re looking for. People from different cultures, religions and backgrounds can all make wonderful foster carers.
What support you’ll receive
You will never be on your own as a foster carer. Throughout your fostering journey you’ll have:
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A named Supervising Social Worker for personal support
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Regular check-ins and supervision meetings
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24/7 advice and support from an experienced team
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Ongoing training and development tailored to your needs
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Local support groups and peer events
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Access to wider networks and resources to help you and the child grow
You’ll never be left to manage alone; we work with you every step of the way.
Foster Carer Allowances
All foster carers receive financial support to help with the care of a child. The amounts are the same across all companies:
Weekly Allowance:
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£436.24 per week
Additional Benefits:
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Summer Holiday Payment: £300
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Child’s Birthday Payment: £150
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Christmas Payment: £150
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Annual Carer Bonus: £200
These payments cover the child’s essential needs and recognise the important work of foster carers.
The organisation values the contribution foster carers make in recruiting new foster carers. Rewards are paid for each new foster carer you refer:
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Introductory Fee: £100 - for introducing a potential carer
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On Approval: £500 - once the new foster carer is approved
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First Child Placement: £1,000 - when the new foster carer takes in their first child
This programme encourages experienced foster carers to share their knowledge and help expand the network of support for children.
"As a foster carer, it is important that you work with a company that is able to fully support both the children and foster carers. A lot of carers from Local Authorities and other Agencies come to us and feel that there could be more done for themselves and the looked after children."
Sarah - Futures for Children
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Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know more?
Foster carers play a vital role in changing lives, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you think fostering could be for you, we’d love to talk.