We’re proud to announce that Kerry Katona has partnered with us here at The Foster Care Charity for her new England World Cup single, “Home Again.”

A proportion of proceeds from the single will go to support children and young people in foster care - helping raise vital funds and awareness at a time when national attention is focused on football and community.

A personal story behind the song
For Kerry Katona, this campaign is deeply personal. Having experienced the care system herself, she understands first-hand the importance of stability, belonging and finding a safe place to call home.

“Home Again” builds on the legacy of Atomic Kitten’s iconic track “Whole Again,” transforming a familiar football anthem into a powerful message about the meaning of home — especially for the thousands of children still searching for it.

National momentum
The campaign has already gained strong momentum:

• Featured on Good Morning Britain (24 June 2026)
• Promoted across Kerry’s instagram and other social channels
• Reached Top 10 in the iTunes chart

This combination of media, music and lived experience has brought renewed focus to fostering at a key national moment.

Every tiny detail matters, because fostering works best when children are placed with carers and families who understand and can support their needs.

Click here to read the full article.

Fostering works best when carers, children and young people know there are people around them who they can turn to. At The Children’s Family Trust, the Fostering Support Assistant role is part of that wider network of support. To explore this role in more detail, we spoke with Emma, Fostering Support Assistant for the West Midlands, about what her work involves and how she supports carers, children and young people.

For Emma, the role is about being a familiar and approachable point of contact. She works with foster carers, children, young people, social workers and the wider team, helping people stay connected and making sure support feels easier to access.

Her work can include helping with events, arranging coffee mornings, speaking with carers, spending time with young people, answering questions, and helping families think through any worries or concerns they may have.

One of the strengths of the role is its flexibility. Support does not look the same for every family. For one carer, it might be a phone call. For another, it might be an email, a check-in, or help finding the right person to speak to. For a young person, it might begin with a relaxed conversation before building towards an activity they feel more comfortable with.

Emma spoke about the importance of meeting children and young people where they are. Some may not want to sit down and talk straight away, especially if they feel unsure or guarded. Building trust can take time. A coffee and a chat might slowly become a regular check-in, and from there it might develop into something the young person enjoys, such as going golfing or spending time outside the home.

Click here to read the full article.

Join our passionate and friendly fostering charity as an experienced social worker!  We are recruiting for an enthusiastic, knowledgeable Supervising Social Worker (SSW) to join our charity team, working primarily from home, but with regular opportunities to meet with colleagues both regionally and agency wide.

There will be involvement in recruiting, assessing, supervising and supporting Foster Carers to support us in maintaining our quality fostering service for looked after children. The role involves recruitment of Foster Carers, travel to the homes of our Foster Carers as required (which will at times involve travelling longer distances), leading occasional projects, running and delivering training and support groups, and taking part in an ‘out of hours’ duty system (approximately 6 times a year).

To allow our social workers to provide a thorough, personal and meaningful service to our fostering families, workload is always allocated to ensure it is manageable. We are an ethically driven charity, putting the needs of our children and carers first and are looking to appoint a Supervising Social Worker who is as passionate about this as we are.

Click here for full job details.

Searching “how to foster” today could help a child find a home tomorrow.

Imagine a 10-year-old named Sam. Sam has lived in three different homes in the past year. He misses his friends, struggles with school, and doesn’t feel safe. What Sam needs isn’t just a place to stay - he needs someone to care, guide, and support him through life.

Now imagine that you could be the person to make that difference. By searching “how to foster” today, you could change the life of a child like Sam - providing stability, love, and hope for the future.

In 2025, the UK had 42,190 foster households looking after over 54,800 children in England - but nearly 30,000 children were still living in residential care homes.

That means thousands of children are still waiting for families who can welcome them into a safe home. 

The need is urgent, and fostering is not just for families with extra space - it’s for anyone willing to offer care, patience, and a home.

Click here to read the full article.

How We Carefully Find the Right Foster Family for Each Child
A common question people ask when they are thinking about fostering is:
“How do you decide what family a child lives with?”or “How do you know if a foster family is right for the child?”

It’s a really important question.  Here at The Foster Care Charity, decisions about where a child will live are never rushed and they are never simply about finding an available space. Our priority is always to find a home where a child can feel safe, cared for and supported to thrive…

…and where foster carers feel confident they can truly help
In fostering, professionals often use the term “matching.” This simply means the careful process of considering a child’s needs, experiences, interests and background, and identifying a foster family who can best support them.

Behind every child that goes to live with a foster family is a dedicated team supporting you. One key member of that team is our Placement Co-ordinator, who plays an important role in this matching process.

Click here to read the full article.

Here's how you can help
If you’ve ever wondered how to foster, what the process involves, or why your help is urgently needed - this is your guide.

The UK continues to face a shortage of foster carers while demand for loving family homes continues to grow. This gap means children who should be living in supportive foster family homes are instead being placed far from their communities or clustered in residential care settings. That isn’t in any child’s best interest - and you can help change that.

Take a look at the latest government data which shows the current state of fostering in England.

Why more foster carers are needed

• About 54,820 children were living with foster families in England as of 31 March 2025, making up around two thirds of all children looked after away from home.
• Yet, there are only 42,190 fostering households in England - a number that has declined steadily over the past 4 years.
• The total number of approved foster carers has dropped to 56,345, a 12 % decrease since 2021, highlighting a long term downward trend in carers available to support children.

This shortage means children are more likely to be placed:

• far from their local community
• separated from siblings
• in residential care rather than family‑based care.

Click here to read the full article.

Join our passionate and friendly fostering charity as an experienced social worker!  We are recruiting for an enthusiastic, knowledgeable Supervising Social Worker (SSW) to join our charity team, working primarily from home, but with regular opportunities to meet with colleagues both regionally and agency wide.

There will be involvement in recruiting, assessing, supervising and supporting Foster Carers to support us in maintaining our quality fostering service for looked after children. The role involves recruitment of Foster Carers, travel to the homes of our Foster Carers as required (which will at times involve travelling longer distances), leading occasional projects, running and delivering training and support groups, and taking part in an ‘out of hours’ duty system (approximately 6 times a year).

Applicants need to be able to take a flexible approach to working, have proven fostering experience (demonstrating significant experience of working within Children’s Services) and be able to demonstrate outstanding people, report writing, organisation and recording skills. Applicants must hold a Diploma or BA in Social Work (or equivalent Social Work qualification) and are required to be registered with Social Work England on commencement and for the duration of employment.

Click here for full job details

Dave and Mary live in Birmingham and have been Foster Carers with FCC since 2005. They have fostered many children on a long term basis.  Dave has also been a trainer for the Skills to Foster course that FCC run for all new carers. 


When our youngest son was born visually impaired, my wife and I contemplated seeking some respite care. Whilst exploring this we discovered that there was a need for other children to be cared for. We initially registered with a Local Authority to provide weekend respite care for physically disabled young people.

Prior to retiring from the Police I had made plans to travel for an extended period of time, so we decided we would suspend fostering for a while to get travelling out of our system, and then on our return go for longer term foster placements.
​
Click here to read the full article.

We are seeking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic Supervising Social Worker (SSW) to join our friendly and unique fostering charity, working primarily from home, but with regular opportunities to meet with colleagues both regionally and agency wide.

There will be involvement in recruiting, assessing, supervising and supporting Foster Carers to support us in maintaining our quality fostering service for looked after children. The role involves recruitment of Foster Carers, travel to the homes of our Foster Carers as required (which will at times involve travelling longer distances), leading occasional projects, running and delivering training and support groups, and taking part in an ‘out of hours’ duty system (approximately 5 times a year).

Applicants need to be able to take a flexible approach to working, have proven fostering experience (demonstrating significant experience of working within Children’s Services) and be able to demonstrate outstanding people, report writing, organisation and recording skills. Applicants must hold a Diploma or BA in Social Work (or equivalent Social Work qualification) and are required to be registered with Social Work England on commencement and for the duration of employment.

To allow our SSWs to provide a thorough, personal and meaningful service to our fostering families, workload is always allocated to ensure it is manageable. We are an ethically driven charity, putting the needs of our children and carers first and are looking to appoint a Social Worker who is as passionate about this as we are.

Click here for full job details 

Celebrating Our Incredible Social Workers!
​
The summer holidays are here — and while the sun might be shining (some of the time!), we know that for foster carers and social workers, this season can bring its own unique set of challenges. Routines are out the window. Children are off school. Parenting looks a little different, and let’s be honest — it can all feel a bit full-on.

That’s why we want to take a moment, right here in the middle of school summer holidays, to say a huge thank you to all our amazing social workers.  You are the steady hands and calming voices behind the scenes, helping to keep everything together while foster carers navigate the summer juggle. Whether it’s offering advice, providing a listening ear, checking in with families, or just being there — you are the backbone of our foster care, and we are so grateful for everything you do.

Click here to read the full article