Foster carers provide safe and loving homes for children who can't live with their own families. This can be for a few weeks, months, or until the child becomes an adult.
These children may have faced difficult experiences, or their families might not be able to care for them safely.
Page contents
- Short term fostering
- Long term fostering
- Get involved during Foster Care Fortnight
- Thinking about General Fostering and want to learn more?
Short term fostering
This type of fostering can last from a single night to several months or even a few years. It’s usually needed when a child is in crisis or their family is unable to care for them temporarily. The goal is often to help the child return to their birth family once the situation improves, or to support them while a longer-term plan is put in place.
Short-term foster carers offer children and young people stability, reassurance and care during periods of uncertainty. They may support children through court proceedings or transitions, and need to be flexible, compassionate and responsive to change.
Long term fostering
In some cases, children cannot return to their birth families, and adoption may not be the right option. Long-term fostering provides a more permanent home, often until the child reaches adulthood. It gives children the chance to build lasting relationships, continue their education in one place, and grow up in a secure, loving environment.
Long-term foster carers commit to becoming a consistent and reliable presence in a child’s life, supporting them through school, friendships, and the journey into adulthood.
What do foster carers do?
- Foster carers do many of the same things parents do, like:
- Taking children to and from school
- Taking them to medical and dental appointments
- Attending meetings
- Visiting friends
- Supporting the child with their needs
People from all walks of life can become foster carers. We provide training, assessment, and ongoing support to help you care for children.
Foster carers are part of a team of professionals who help children adjust to a new family life and recover from traumatic experiences they may have had earlier in their lives. We will help you think about whether looking after children for short or longer periods of time works better in your situation.
Get involved during Foster Care Fortnight
Foster Care Fortnight, held every May, is the UK’s biggest awareness campaign for fostering. It’s a brilliant opportunity to celebrate our foster carers and encourage others to explore how fostering could fit into their lives.
The next Foster Care Fortnight runs from Monday 12 May to Sunday 25 May 2026, and focuses on how foster carers provide safe, stable, and loving homes for children when they need it most. This is a time to highlight the importance of foster care in our communities and the life-changing difference it makes for children and young people.
Whether you’re already fostering or just starting to explore the idea, there are so many ways to get involved:
- Share stories: to highlight personal experiences and the impact of fostering. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #FCF25 to join the national conversation.
- Attend events: Join local drop-ins, information sessions, or online webinars happening throughout the fortnight.
- Support fundraising efforts: Take part in campaigns like the to raise money for fostering services and support networks.
- Say thank you: Send messages or tokens of appreciation to foster carers in your community.
- Educate yourself and others: Learn more about fostering and share resources to help others consider becoming foster carers too.
We’d love to hear how you plan to get involved—or what you’d like to see more of. Reach out and tell us!
Thinking about General Fostering and want to learn more?
Take our quick Could You Foster? quiz or order a free brochure to learn more about how fostering could fit into your life.