You have the power to change a child's life.
Fostering is not just caring for a child — it's shaping their future. It's one of the most profoundly rewarding things a person can do.
Why people choose to foster
Make a Real Difference
Foster carers provide stability, love, and safety to children who need it most. Many carers say it is the most meaningful work they have ever done.
Personal Growth
Fostering stretches you in the best ways. Carers consistently report developing greater patience, empathy, and resilience.
Professional Support
You are never alone. Fostering agencies provide 24/7 support, regular supervision, peer groups, and a dedicated social worker.
Financial Allowance
Foster carers receive a weekly allowance to cover the costs of caring. Rates typically range from £150–£500+ per week.
Training & Development
Continuous professional development is built in. From initial training to specialist courses, you will always be learning.
Community & Belonging
Join a community of carers who understand the journey. Many foster carers form lifelong friendships.
Children who need you
There is no single type of child in care. Each one deserves a home and a carer who can meet their unique needs.
Babies & Toddlers
Need nurturing stability in their earliest years
School-Age Children
Need routine, homework help, and encouragement
Teenagers
Need patient guidance during a complex time
Sibling Groups
Brothers and sisters who need to stay together
Children with Disabilities
Need specialist care and understanding
Emergency Placements
Children who need a safe bed tonight
Fostering Finances: Allowances & Fees Explained
Fostering is a professional social care path. Carers receive payments structured into two distinct parts:
1. The Maintenance Allowance (Tax-Free Child Upkeep)
This is a statutory allowance designed to cover the full cost of caring for a child (food, clothing, utility shares, school trips, pocket money, and hobbies). The Department for Education (DfE) sets mandatory minimum allowances annually, which vary based on the child's age and geographic location (with London and the South East receiving higher rates to match living costs).
2. The Professional Fee (Reward for Skills & Care)
This is your payment for your time, professional skills, and work as a foster carer. While many Local Authorities stick closely to the standard child maintenance rates, Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) typically pay substantial professional fees on top, ranging from **£150 to £400+ per week per child** based on your experience and the complexity of the child's needs.
The Support Network Around You
As a foster carer in the UK, you are never left to cope alone. Under national care standards, you are backed by a multi-disciplinary team:
Supervising Social Worker (SSW)
Your dedicated support worker who visits regularly, conducts supervisions, assists with training records, and advocates for you in case reviews.
24/7 Out-of-Hours Support
Access to a qualified social worker on duty at any hour of the night, weekend, or bank holiday, ensuring guidance is always a phone call away.
Respite & Short Breaks
Paid respite allocation (typically 14 to 22 days per year) where children can spend a weekend with a registered respite carer to give you a planned break.
Start with FosterReady.uk. It's free.
FosterReady.uk is the UK's starting point for anyone thinking about fostering. Then explore the tools that support every stage of your journey.
FosterReady.uk — Start Here
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