Urgent Call for More Foster Carers in the UK

Children and young people are at risk of increased instability, as new figures reveal thousands more foster carers are urgently needed across the UK.

New data from The Fostering Network shows that 6,000 additional foster carers are required to give children the safe, stable, and loving homes they need. This Foster Care Fortnight (11–24 May), the charity is calling on the Government to properly value foster care – before even more carers are lost.

The number of foster carers across the UK has been falling since 2021. Although the rate of decline has slowed in recent years, the system is under significant and increasing strain.

Foster carers report insufficient finances, inadequate support from fostering services, and a lack of respect from the wider team around the child – all of which are taking a serious toll on their wellbeing and contributing to carers leaving the role.

Leigh Strange, who has been a foster carer for 27 years, says: “The danger is when foster carers don’t feel listened to and can’t get support at a crisis point – they leave. Newer carers are especially vulnerable in their first five years.

“There needs to be more support for foster carers, especially when they start, so they feel confident they can continue.”

This lack of support has direct and damaging consequences for children and young people, who have already experienced significant trauma. Stability is essential for them to heal and thrive, yet declining numbers of foster carers mean this stability is increasingly out of reach.

Too often, children experience unplanned moves. Sometimes, they are moved far from their communities, or separated from their brothers and sisters – adding to the trauma they have already experienced.

Financial support is also critical to ensuring foster carers can continue in their role and provide everything the child needs whilst in their care. While all foster carers should receive an allowance and a fee, payments are often too low and inconsistent across the UK.

Leigh said: “Fostering is a constantly changing landscape, and children are the ones who struggle most – they need stability. If carers aren’t paid adequately, it limits what they can provide and the opportunities they can give the children in their care.”

Leigh says the Government must do more to listen to foster carers in order to deliver lasting change.

She adds: “Things aren’t changing – that’s why foster carers are leaving. None of this is an easy fix, but these challenges have continued for so long because there’s a resistance to really listening to what foster carers are saying.

“If the Government genuinely paid attention to foster carers, as the people on the ground dealing with these challenges every day, change would happen much more quickly.”

Urgent government action is needed to stabilise the fostering system. Children must have the right foster carers, in the right place, at the right time – so they can build secure, lasting relationships and reach their full potential.

While the Government’s ambition to recruit 10,000 additional foster places by 2029 is a welcome step, recruitment alone will not solve the crisis. Without stronger action to retain existing carers, the system will continue to lose vital experience and stability.

This Foster Care Fortnight, The Fostering Network is calling on the Government to:

Place equal focus on retaining existing foster carers, as well as recruiting new carers, in their fostering implementation plan – which will take forward their fostering strategy.  This should include clear plans to increase financial remuneration for foster carers, as well as wrap around support – so there’s always help on hand when needed.

We’re also calling for the introduction of a register of all foster carers across the UK. This would help improve professional recognition of foster carers, as well as provide a clearer picture of the foster carers available in each local area. This will help local authorities find homes for children more quickly.

Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network, said:

“Foster Care Fortnight is an opportunity to say thank you to foster carers for their incredible dedication, while also calling on the Government for much needed change in the system.

“We currently need thousands more foster carers across the UK to meet the needs of children – but this is about far more than numbers. Children need stability after experiencing significant trauma, and foster carers cannot provide that without proper support.

“Foster carers are reporting declining levels of wellbeing, forcing many to leave altogether. It is unacceptable that those delivering this vital public service do not feel valued or supported.

“That’s why retention is just as important as recruitment. Urgent action is needed to protect and sustain the dedicated pool of foster carers we already have – because without them, recruitment efforts alone will not succeed. Foster carers provide care 24/7 and this needs to be recognised by providing them with round-the-clock support, so they always have someone to turn to.”