Have you been thinking about becoming a foster carer? If so, we are glad to hear it. Thinking about becoming a foster carer is the first step to helping children in your local area. More foster carers than ever before are needed here in the UK, and it’s time to stop thinking about it and to start your fostering journey. Here are 3 reasons why 2023 should be the year that you finally join our team and become a foster carer.

Over 80,000 children are currently being cared for away from home.

Statistics show that as of March 2022, 82170 children were being looked after outside of their family home. Out of this number, 57540 children and young people were living with foster families. There are thousands of children in need of a safe and loving home. Foster carers work hard to give the children in their care stability, love and understanding – does this sound like something you can do? With so many children in need of foster care, now is the perfect time to apply.

Applications for foster carers have declined over the last 5 years.

In recent years, the number of people applying to foster has dropped significantly. In 2018, there were 10520 foster carer applications, and this reduced to 8280 in 2022. The number of foster carer applications is going down but the number of children in foster care is increasing. There is now a real urgency for more foster carers in the UK. If more people become approved foster carers in 2023, children can be placed in the best possible home for their needs and circumstances.

Foster care is a rewarding, challenging and meaningful career.

Fostering is more than just a job; it is a calling and a lifestyle. Fostering positively changes the lives of children and young people, but also the lives of foster carers too. Foster carers make supportive and understanding mentors, they are shoulders to cry on, listening ears and hands to hold for children in need. Life as a foster family will have its ups and downs, but helping children to thrive and have the childhood they deserve is extremely rewarding.

Our independent fostering agency with an office base in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, is made up of a dedicated and passionate team. Our foster carers live across the Midlands and we work alongside local authorities throughout the region. Everyone at Focus Foster Care is working towards the same goal, to embrace the lives of young people and protect their childhoods. We do this by supporting our foster carers every step of the way. We are proud of the hard work that our foster carers do and we are currently looking for more exceptional people to join our team.

If you have been apprehensive about taking the first step to becoming a foster carer, make 2023 the year that you pick up the phone and call our fostering agency. We are a small and friendly team, and we can’t wait to hear from you.

If you would like to find out more about the different types of foster care or want to learn how to become a foster carer with our independent fostering agency, please get in touch with us on 0800 524 4797 .