Many people make room in their homes and hearts for children: but what about a child that isn't your own? Could you open your home and help children in need by entering into long-term fostering or short-term care?   

Becoming a foster parent is a challenging yet highly rewarding career. Some children and young people are unable to live with their own families for a variety of reasons and are in desperate need of a caring, safe and stable environment. It could be for a short time or sometimes through to adulthood (long-term foster care)

By entering into long-term fostering or short-term fostering, you can help to nurture and protect vulnerable children and young people, leaving them with positive memories and the chance to achieve what every child deserves.

Whether it's for a short period of time while a family get back on their feet or providing a permanent home (long-term foster care), by becoming a foster parent you could change a life forever. If spare time is an issue for you, carers are also needed to offer temporary care (days and overnight) for children with disabilities so that their parents can get a much-needed break.

If you're considering becoming a foster carer, committed, enthusiastic people is what we're looking for. People from all walks of life can foster, regardless of:

  • Race
  • Religion
  • Gender
  • Sexuality
  • Disability
  • Single or in a relationship
  • Employed or unemployed
  • Homeowner or in rented accommodation


The only requirements are that you're over 21, have a spare room in your home and, of course, room in your heart to accommodate a child or young person.

Long-term foster care is one of the options available when you become a foster carer. Long-term foster care involves building a lengthily relationship with a child or young person and guiding them through to adulthood.     

When a child's needs are considered best met in a foster placement, a long-term foster care agreement is put into place and the foster carer commits to looking after a child through to adulthood.

Children and young people may stay in touch with their birth family but the long-term foster care parent will take full responsibility for their upbringing.  Long-term fostering is an amazingly rewarding commitment.  

Short-term fostering and other types of fostering can lead to long-term foster care placements and many people prefer to enter into a long-term foster care agreement.

Every foster carer is unique and it takes lots of different personalities to create a winning team. There are, however, some pretty important qualities that you'll certainly need while fostering, whether it's long-term fostering or short-term:

  • A good sense of humour.
  • Lots of patience and a good set of listening ears always come in handy.
  • The ability to deal with the challenges of looking after a child who has been in difficult circumstances
  • Plenty of enthusiasm and room in your life and home to help.

Fostering is a big commitment (whether it's short-term or long-term fostering) and it's important for you to consider how it will change your life. Here is a quick list of issues you will need to think about:

  • Fostering will involve the whole family so it's a good idea to talk to your loved ones and get their thoughts and feelings.
  • Will other adults and children in the household be happy to share their space and family with a child or young person?
  • Lifestyle will impact on becoming a foster carer, as you will need to ensure you set aside a considerable amount of time to care for somebody else.
  • Long-term fostering means entering a lengthily commitment to a child a young person: think about this carefully before you bring a foster child into your home.


Who are the children and young people?

Children and young people - ranging from tiny babies to teenagers nearing adulthood - need long-term fostering and short-term care. You can discuss which age range you would prefer to foster with our team and you can specialise within a specific age range.

Some children have special needs and often have physical or learning disabilities, which will need extra care and attention. This may only be for a short period to give their parents support and respite. The number of unaccompanied asylum seekers is rising and many children come to this country completely alone, not understanding the language and are left in an extremely frightening position. All the children need a safe environment, with some better suited to short-term care while others need long-term fostering.
  
Sadly, many of the children and young people will have suffered traumatic experiences and will need your understanding and patience. Whether it's for a short time while family issues are resolved or long-term fostering in more complex cases, you could change a life forever.