What is Fostering?

Sometimes children and young people experience situations where they are unable to live with their birth family. Fostering can offer children and young people a safe and stable environment with trained Foster Carers that can give them the care and support they need.

Children and young people can come into care for a variety of reasons. It may be that a birth parent is unwell, there has been a bereavement, it is not safe for a child or young person to remain at home or for another reason. Whatever the reason, fostering gives children and young people a secure and loving environment where they can grow and develop.

Fostering might be a temporary or a long-term arrangement. This depends on the reasons why the child or young person is in care and the type of placement.