Open My Home to a Young Person About Fostering with Step by Step

Why Foster? A Rewarding and Life-changing Experience 

We believe that every young person has the potential to be their own hero. As a foster carer, you offer the secure foundation that helps them realise that potential.

Fostering gives children and young people more than a roof over their head. It offers a secure base where they can build confidence, develop independence and harness their inner strength. Children and young people in care often face challenges and change, but with someone who believes in them, they can rise above those challenges and grow into strong, resilient adults.

By opening your home, you’ll:

• Support a vulnerable child or young person to develop and realise their own potential.
• Provide a secure base within a stable, loving home.
• Build a meaningful, life-changing relationship.
• Help children and young people to heal from past trauma, offering a chance to heal and thrive.

Fostering is not only life-changing for children and young people – it’s deeply rewarding for carers too. Many describe it as one of the most powerful and fulfilling experiences of their lives.

What Makes Step by Step Different? 

We’re not a national agency. We’re your local fostering team with roots across Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, West Berkshire, Wiltshire and West Sussex. As a not-for-profit organisation, any surplus funds are reinvested into supporting young people and delivering life-changing services across the region.

What we offer:

• A relational approach – we prioritise connection, not just compliance.
• Wraparound support – an allocated Supervising Social Worker, regular check-ins, monthly supervision, out of hours service, peer support groups and your own membership with the Fostering Network.
• Specialist focus – our carers are trained to provide a trauma-informed approach, with therapeutic and PACE parenting.
• An extensive training package – in person, face to face virtual, and online training.

Hear from Our Carers 

“If I were to use one word to describe Step by Step Fostering it would be empowering. Our relationship with our Supervising Social Worker is great; we love having her round for a cup of tea and a nice long chat. She’s really friendly, inviting and shares loads of information with us that helps us along our journey.”
-Hannah, Foster Carer with Step by Step

We work with carers from all walks of life. What unites them is a commitment to supporting children and young people as they develop their strength and independence.

What Kind of Young People Do We Support?

We focus on supporting teenagers, but we welcome foster carers who can provide a safe, stable home to children of all ages.

Many of the young people we work with have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of difficult circumstances. Your support can give them the foundation they need to continue their journey with strength and confidence.

These young people are already heroes. They’ve faced significant challenges and still choose to move forward with hope and determination. Your care gives them the stability and encouragement they need to keep going.