Introduction
Across the UK there is an urgent need for around 10,000 more foster carers. This shortage means that children are too often being moved around from home to home, have to be split up from their brothers and sisters, and have to live a long way from their family and friends.
The more people approved as foster carers, the more likely it is that a good match can be found for a child in terms of location, culture, lifestyle, language and interests. More foster carers means reducing the damage that instability causes to the most vulnerable children in our society.
Fostering provides homes for children for many different reasons, maybe because of a crisis in the child's family, abuse, alcohol or drug addictions or parents who are unable to cope.
As a foster carer, you will be able to decide the types of children best suited to you and your family. Brothers and sisters who need to stay together, children with special needs, teenagers, asylum seeking youngsters and mothers and their children all need foster homes.
- Fostering is a service where you will care for other people's children in your home;
- Fostering can be challenging and stressful but it is often fun, can be enormously rewarding and you will get lots of help;
- Fostering is looking after children for short periods, months, years and sometimes permanently.
- Fostering is looking after children of all ages and from many different backgrounds.
Fostering is a partnership which focuses on the needs of the child. Foster carers, parents and social workers all work together. Register for more information or to apply to become a foster carer.
Why do people foster?
People become foster carers because they are committed to giving children a safe and secure home. Stella, a foster carer told us "fostering has given me the opportunity to give youngsters a chance at family life. My kids had left home, I had the space and because I had thought about fostering for a while I took the plunge. I look after teenagers now who I help to move on to independance. It's hard sometimes but I love it!"
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Fostering as a career
Fostering can be a career. Some Agencies are prepared to pay retainers between placements to experienced foster carers and there is a growing need for foster carers who are prepared to look after children and young people on a long term basis, as well as permanently.
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Who can be a foster carer?
Foster carers come from all walks of life, different backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, ages and occupations. To be a foster carer you will need to be flexible, understanding and want to learn new skills. A good sense of humour helps.
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