England launches national call for more foster carers
A new national campaign is inviting adults across England to consider fostering, with the government targeting 10,000 new foster places by the end of Parliament.
England has launched its first national recruitment campaign for foster carers, asking more adults to consider opening their homes to children in care. The campaign was announced on 14 October by the Department for Education.
The government says it wants to create 10,000 new foster places by the end of this Parliament. The campaign will focus on adults in their thirties and forties who may have the capacity to foster but have not previously explored the option.
The department says approved foster-carer numbers have fallen by 12% since 2019 while the number of children needing care has risen. It has allocated £88 million for fostering reform, including £12.4 million for innovative and flexible models.
The launch at Downing Street brought together foster carers, frontline workers and people with direct experience of care.