Why foster?

Being a foster carer is all about helping children to thrive.

Every year, foster carers give thousands of children and young people a stable, loving home while they can’t live with their own families.

This means they have a unique chance to make a real difference to children’s lives – and thousands more foster carers are needed every year.  

There's nothing quite like fostering!

• Foster carers work from home so it’s possible to combine fostering with other responsibilities, like caring for your own children, or having another job. The age and needs of the children in your care will affect what else you can do, but there are lots of different types of fostering, so you can choose the one that’s right for you. 
• As a foster carer, you’ll be paid a sum of money called an allowance, designed to cover the costs of looking after the children in your care. The allowance depends on where you live and the age of the children you care for. Some foster carers will also be paid a fee. This might include additional payments for looking after a child with specific needs or to recognise the experience and skills you bring to the role.
• For as long as you're a foster carer, you will be given training and support to develop your skills and knowledge about fostering. You will also have the chance to get involved with other aspects of fostering, such as helping to recruit new foster carers.
• Foster carers have a unique chance to make a real difference to a child's life, supporting them and working to help them develop and achieve their potential. It’s an incredibly rewarding role.