What family building means

We believe that building a family for children who cannot be cared for by their own family can take various forms, so we’ll explore with you the best way to achieve that goal. Both fostering and adoption are great ways to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people. Through fostering […]

About the children

There are over 82,000 children in care in England that need either fostering or adopting. They come from a variety of different ethnic and religious backgrounds and some may have disabilities or other special needs. Most of the children have been removed from their birth families by the courts because their parents and wider families […]

Fostering book list

Thinking about fostering? by Henrietta Bond Packed with essential information and advice, this book provides a realistic and honest insight into what it means to look after other people’s children and provide a safe and supportive home. Find out more Promoting resilience by Robbie Gilligan This bestselling guide contains inspirational ideas and suggestions for promoting […]

Becoming a foster carer

Research You’ve already begun this stage of the process – finding out about the different types of foster carer and whether fostering is right for you. There are many books available to help you make that decision as well as finding out as much as you can about the children needing foster carers. Choosing the right fostering provider Find out about […]

Who can foster?

If you’re thinking of becoming a foster carer, first of all you need to ask yourself these questions: Can you empathise with a child who may never have experienced the security of feeling safe and loved? Can you be patient and flexible, to supportively adapt to whatever unique challenges may come from the child’s circumstances? […]

Fostering

Caring for a child as part of your family Children who can’t live with their birth family and are under the care of their local authority are placed with foster carers to live as part of their family. Foster carers are employed by the local authority to look after the children while long-term plans for […]

Types of fostering

There are different types of foster care that are adapted to meet the wide ranging needs of children in care. Fostering can sometimes be a short-term plan where the child will return to their birth families (parents or other family members). In other cases where the child cannot return to their family, fostering can also be a long-term solution […]

Be my family – other ways of caring for a child in your family

If you are thinking about adopting, chances are you already have some of the important characteristics that are essential to being a mainstream foster carer. There are currently around to 80,000 children in local authority care in England and the majority of these children (70%) are placed in foster care. While in foster care, children […]