Government Unveils £88m Plan to Recruit 10,000 New Foster Carers
The government has launched a multimillion-pound drive to recruit 10,000 new foster carers by the end of the next parliament, backed by £88m in funding. Ministers describe the initiative as a major effort to reverse a long-term decline in support for vulnerable children across Britain.
Modernising the Fostering System
The new plan promises to open fostering up to younger and more diverse households, sweep away outdated rules, and ensure carers receive better financial and practical support. The government argues this represents a reset that simplifies bureaucracy, strengthens regional fostering hubs, and tests more flexible models of care, with ministers insisting that no one should be worse off for fostering.
Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, said: "Reversing the decline in the number of available foster places is an urgent priority for me because fostering is so vital to our wider mission to give vulnerable children the best possible start in life. We're bringing fostering into the 21st century, removing outdated rules and unnecessary barriers."
Charity Welcome and Calls for More Investment
The announcement has been broadly welcomed by fostering charities, though they stress the ambition must be matched with greater investment. Sarah Thomas, chief executive of The Fostering Network, highlighted how the cost-of-living crisis is forcing carers out of the system.
"Foster carers tell us that due to the cost of living crisis, they do not have the funds in order to enable them to continue fostering," she said. "It is why people are leaving and we really call on the government to ensure they put more investment into the finance and remuneration of fostering in the UK."
Frontline Carers Describe a System at Breaking Point
Despite the government's focus, carers on the frontline have told Sky News that the crisis runs deeper than recruitment alone. Jamie Hirst, who fosters three teenage boys in Stockport, said the system is already "at breaking point."
"The system needs a full overhaul, not just a bit of rearranging," he explained. "Pretty much everyone is at capacity now. It's the support, and the lack of support, by the children's social workers that pushes carers to the edge."
Former foster carer Bryony Farmer echoed these concerns, stating she left because "the system was just too challenging to work with." She emphasised: "We're not just warm hearts and a spare room; we are professionals doing a role that is incredibly challenging. We need a system which supports us and not works against us."
Growing Shortage Despite Previous Pledges
This is not the first time ministers have promised to address the foster care shortage. Over the past decade, successive governments have announced recruitment drives, including commitments in the 2018 fostering reforms and the 2022 children's social care strategy.
Yet, despite these pledges, the number of foster carers has continued to fall. In England, approved carer numbers are down by nearly 12% over the past decade, with more carers leaving than joining, according to Fostering England figures. The drop accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic, just as the number of children entering care continued to rise.
Impact on Vulnerable Children
Around 99,000 children are living in care in Britain, yet there are only about 49,000 fostering households available to look after them. Experts estimate the system is already short of around 8,000 foster carers, a gap that has been growing year on year.
With too few foster homes available, more children are placed far from their communities or moved into residential care—settings that are often more disruptive, more expensive, and in some cases open children up to exploitation and abuse. Residential care is also far more expensive, with local authorities spending £4.7bn on residential placements in 2022, according to the Local Government Association.
Minister MacAlister concluded: "Foster carers give children the stable, loving relationships they need to recover from trauma and thrive. If you've ever considered fostering, I would urge you to look into this incredible vocation that can transform a child's life."
