UK Launches National Campaign to Create 10,000 Foster Places

The Government of the United Kingdom is launching its first national foster carer recruitment campaign to reverse a 10% decline in fostering households since 2021. The initiative seeks to create 10,000 new foster care places by the end of the current parliament, with a specific focus on recruiting adults in their 30s and 40s.

To make fostering more accessible, the government is trialing flexible care models, including short-term respite fostering and part-time options. Children's Minister Josh MacAlister stated that the system must expand rapidly to prevent children from remaining in residential care or being placed far from their home communities.

While the Coram Institute for Children has identified a significant pool of interested adults, industry experts and the Fostering Network warn that recruitment alone is insufficient. Current carers report leaving the sector due to financial strain and a lack of support from social workers, with only 33% stating that their allowances fully cover the costs of raising a child. Carol Homden, CEO of Coram, emphasized that the government must pair recruitment with practical support to improve the retention of existing carers.