The Government has recently published a new national action plan, ‘Renewing Fostering: homes for 10,000 more children’, setting out how it intends to reform fostering and make it more accessible across England.
At The Children’s Family Trust, we welcome the ambition behind this plan. Like many fostering charities, we see first-hand the growing need for more safe, loving foster homes – especially for children who need to stay close to their communities, schools and siblings.
So what does this plan actually mean, and how could it affect fostering charities like ours?
Why fostering reform matters
The action plan acknowledges something the sector has been saying for years – there simply are not enough foster carers. As a result, too many children are placed far from home or in residential settings when a family environment would better meet their needs.
The Government’s commitment to creating 10,000 more foster homes recognises that foster carers are central to improving outcomes for children and young people. Importantly, the plan also recognises that recruitment alone is not enough – carers need the right support to stay.
What this means for The Children's Family Trust
As a fostering charity, our focus has always been on relationships, stability and high-quality support. Several aspects of the action plan strongly align with how we already work:
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Greater recognition of support and retention – The plan highlights the importance of training, peer support and ongoing guidance for carers. This reflects our belief that foster carers thrive when they feel valued, listened to and well supported.
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Reducing unnecessary barriers – Proposed changes to assessment processes and outdated rules aim to make fostering more accessible, without compromising safety. This could help more people progress through the fostering journey with confidence.
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Increased collaboration – Investment in regional working and shared recruitment could strengthen local placement options and help charities like ours continue to offer personalised, community-based care.
While some changes will take time to implement, the direction of travel is encouraging – towards a fostering system that is more flexible, fair and focused on children’s real lives.
Making fostering more accessible
One of the most positive messages in the action plan is the challenge to outdated myths about who can foster. The Government is clear that fostering should be open to people from a wide range of backgrounds, life experiences and household types.
You do not need to be married, own your home or already have children to foster. What matters most is the ability to offer a safe, stable and nurturing home. This has always been our approach – but we hope this improves awareness, so that more households realise they are eligible to foster.
By simplifying systems and improving public understanding, the plan has the potential to help more people see fostering as something they can do – not something reserved for a select few.
Our commitment
At The Children’s Family Trust, we will continue to champion fostering that is ethical, child-centred and rooted in strong relationships. As reforms develop, we will work to ensure our carers and children benefit from positive change, while maintaining the personal support that sets our charity apart.
Thinking about fostering?
There has never been a more important time to consider becoming a foster carer. With the right support, ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference to a child’s life.
If you have ever thought about fostering – or would simply like to learn more – we would love to hear from you. Enquire today and take the first step towards offering a child the stability and care they deserve.
