The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity and membership organisation, bringing together everyone who is involved in the lives of fostered children to make foster care the very best it can be.
Every day there are over 70,000 children living with almost 56,000 foster families in the UK. Every 20 minutes another child comes into care needing a foster family. The majority of these children are placed in care due to abuse or neglect.
Foster families give children the love, support and stability that they so desperately need. This is often their first positive experience of family life. We are here for every fostered child and their carer.
Outcomes for children in care are lower than their peers. For example only 15 per cent achieve an A-C grade in English and Maths, compared to almost 60 per cent of their peers not in care. However we also know that 30 per cent of children in care have a statement of special educational need and 60 per cent experience emotional or mental health problems.
Despite the trauma of coming into care and their difficult start to life, we know that good foster care is a protective factor for fostered children’s education and wellbeing. Good foster care transforms children’s lives and enables them to flourish. That’s why we work to make foster care the very best it can be.
Find out more about what we do.
Over the next year over 8,000 new foster families are needed. Could you foster?
