Have you ever asked yourself, "Could I foster a child or young person?" If so, you're not alone. Many of our amazing foster carers began their journey wondering the same thing. At Step by Step, we believe there's no such thing as a "typical" foster carer. What matters most is your ability to offer care, stability and kindness.
Whether you're single, semi-retired, renting, or have never had children of your own – you might be more ready than you think.
1. You don’t need a perfect life – just a caring heart
Foster carers are everyday people with big hearts. There is no need for a perfect home or flawless life story. What matters is your willingness to open your home to a child or young person who needs it.
2. Age, marital status or job – these don’t define your ability to foster
You can foster if you're over 21, whether you're married, single, working full-time, part-time or retired. Many of our carers are people whose children have grown up, or who are simply looking for a meaningful way to give back.
3. Life experience is one of your biggest strengths
If you’ve raised children, worked with young people, or supported someone through a challenge, you already have skills that make you a great candidate. We value lived experience as highly as professional experience.
4. You’ll have training and support every step of the way
You don’t need to have all the answers on day one. Our dedicated team offers full training, ongoing support, and a close-knit community of other carers. You’ll never be doing this alone.
To become a foster carer with Step by Step, you’ll need to:
We welcome carers from all backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations and family types.
The best foster carers aren’t superheroes. They’re compassionate, consistent and open-minded. The qualities that make a difference include:
If you have a stable home and a genuine desire to help a child or young person thrive, you already have the foundation to be a fostering hero.
Yes. You can foster whether you rent or own your home, as long as you have a spare bedroom and a stable living situation. If you rent, you’ll need your landlord’s written permission before you can begin the fostering assessment.
Not at all. Many brilliant foster carers have not had children themselves. What matters is your ability to offer a caring and stable environment.
Yes. Single people can make excellent foster carers. Being married or in a relationship is not a requirement.
Possibly. It depends on your job, flexibility, and availability. We’ll talk with you about what’s realistic and how fostering might fit into your lifestyle.
That’s absolutely fine. Many people bring transferable skills from other walks of life. We’ll provide full training and guidance.
Yes. You’ll receive thorough training before you begin and ongoing support from our experienced fostering team.
There’s no upper age limit. As long as you’re over 21 and in good general health, age is not a barrier.