Fostering is a big responsibility. But right from your first conversation with us, you'll have a team behind you who understand exactly what you're navigating.
You'll also receive a weekly allowance, to support the cost of caring for a child and to recognise the importance of what you're taking on. We'll talk you through what that could look like for your situation.
“"You can't be perfect, and you shouldn't try to be. What matters is providing a safe, stable, normal home."
As part of a charity, we are not driven by profit. Instead, we are building a fostering service where surplus funds are reinvested to support more young people, through services including supported accommodation, counselling, and education and employment programmes. Here's what we provide you with as a carer:
We know fostering isn't about the money, but it's a genuinely important, practical question, and one you're right to ask early. Every foster carer receives a weekly allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child. The exact amount depends on the type of placement and how many children you care for, so it varies from family to family. Alongside the allowance, you'll have training, a dedicated supervising social worker, and ongoing support around you throughout.
Use the calculator below to get a quick estimate of the fostering allowance you could receive based on the number of children you care for and the type of placement you are interested in.
Figures shown are estimates based on weekly rates multiplied over 52 weeks, with the monthly figure shown as the yearly total divided by 12.
You don't need experience or a particular kind of family. What you do need is a spare room, patience, and a willingness to show up for a child, day after day. Here's what happens next:
You must be over 21 years old but other than that we welcome carers from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and family situations. What matters is stability and the room in your life, not a specific profile.
No one does at first. Full training comes before your first placement, and your supervising social worker is there for the questions that come up after.
Yes. Every match is thoughtfully considered around what's right for the child, and many young people build strong, trusting relationships with LGBTQ+ carers.
A dedicated supervising social worker, 24/7 emergency contact, regular training, and a community of other Step by Step carers.