Become a foster carer with The Children’s Family Trust
Deciding to become a foster carer is a life-changing decision, and here at The Children’s Family Trust, we want our prospective foster carers to have all the information they need to make the best decision.
We are proud to be a not-for-profit fostering charity dedicated to providing the highest quality care and support for local foster families since 1945.
Foster carers within our organisation are given ongoing training, advice, and guidance from experienced social workers and other experts in the field.
Discover the rewarding benefits of long-term fostering in England today when you contact The CFT!
Is becoming a foster carer the right role for you?
Anyone can apply to become a foster carer as long as they have what it takes to care for children separated from their birth families. Many types of fostering, ranging from short-term to long-term fostering placements, offer flexibility to foster families.
Short-term fostering may only last a few days or weeks until we can find a more permanent home for the foster child. Most short-term foster care is temporary, with the foster child returning to their birth family. Long-term foster care may involve caring for the child or young person until they reach adulthood and choose to live independently. Whether you want to be a short-term or long-term foster carer, we would love to have you join us!
There’s no upper age limit in fostering. However, you must be at least 21 years old and have a spare bedroom available for a foster child. The children and young people in our care come from all different backgrounds and walks of life, so it makes sense that we need foster families from an equally wide range of cultures, lifestyles, and UK locations to join us. Find out here if fostering is right for you?
We welcome applicants from all walks of life and backgrounds.
The fostering role can often be quite demanding, so we also need to ensure that our foster carers are reasonably fit, healthy, and emotionally available to respond to the needs of a child. We look for people who are warm, friendly, robust, resilient, and able to provide a stable, loving, and secure home. There are many misconceptions about fostering, and we frequently find that some people think their situation rules them out from applying to become foster parents. Please reach out to our team to discuss your specific situation and the legal responsibility you would have for the child or young person in your care should you decide to become a permanent foster carer. We work with you to prepare paperwork, as well as support with other nuances of providing care, especially those that include the competitive foster care finances packages.
Support us through fostering, fundraising, or donations
Even if you are not currently in the position to foster children, there are many ways you can support The Children’s Family Trust and our vision, including:
The CFT is always keen to hear from anyone who wants to fundraise for us. Be it a 5km fun run or something more unusual (skydive, anyone?), we will support you to make it happen. In previous years, people have completed various fundraising activities, including hosting charity dinners and fashion shows. One of our Trustees climbed the three highest peaks in the UK, cycling between them, all in one week!
You can donate to The Children’s Family Trust in several ways, including visiting our JustGiving page or one of our other donation platforms. You can also donate to us by contacting our Finance Team directly at 01527 919452. We are proud of our charitable status and believe in investing in the lives of the children and young people under our wing. This can be challenging, but with your support, we can continue to do more of the same.
Leaving a gift to The Children’s Family Trust in your will is another way you can support us. Remembering The CFT in your will is simple. However, it’s best to ensure your wishes are carried out as you intended. If you would like to discuss leaving a legacy for The Children’s Family Trust in your will, please contact our Finance Manager on 01527 919452 for further information.
If you would like to discuss leaving a legacy for The Children’s Family Trust in your will, please contact our Finance Manager on 01527 574446 for further information.
Charitable Travel is a social enterprise that helps people book holidays at fantastic prices while also raising money for charities. When you book your holiday, whether at home or abroad, you can donate 5% of the holiday price to The Children’s Family Trust at no extra cost to you! Once the donation is made, Charitable Travel discounts the cost of your holiday by the same 5%, sacrificing the commission that travel agencies make. Charitable Travel sells ATOL–protected holidays worldwide from 200 suppliers and is a member of the Travel Trust Association to ensure their customers are financially protected. Find out more by visiting their website, visiting our donation page, or calling their team of agents on 020 3092 1288.
No matter how big or small your contribution is, it will leave a lasting impact and make a huge difference in the lives of the children and young people we support. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- A minimum of 85p in every £1 goes directly to improving our services to our children and foster carers.
- Some of our charitable reserves are spent supporting children and young people after they have left our care.
Become a foster carer - Read our carer's experiences
The Foster carer blog
Foster Carer stories – Fighting for change
When fostering becomes your transferrable skill
Contact us to start your fostering journey with The CFT
No matter if you’re just considering foster care or are ready to start your journey with our local authority, contact our dedicated team.
We would be happy to guide you towards starting your fostering career with The CFT. We welcome any enquiries you may have about being a foster carer!
