Five reasons to foster with us

We believe that every child deserves a safe and happy childhood and a home where they have the chance to thrive. 

Sara and Rob, who are foster carers with Action for Children Fostering in Wales, said: “We chose to foster with Action for Children because their values really align with ours. They put children at the heart of everything they do and provide incredible support for foster families. We were impressed by their commitment to making sure every child feels safe, loved, and has the best possible start in life. The training and ongoing guidance they offer gave us confidence that we’d always have someone to turn to, which makes a huge difference.”

At Action for Children Fostering, we celebrate individuality. We don’t expect our foster carers to fit into a mould. That’s why we offer local support and extensive training that is tailored to their needs. We will be on hand 24 hours a day, every day. We will also introduce you to other foster carers doing the same thing as you so that you have that added layer of peer support.

Pam said: “We contacted Action for Children Fostering because my cousin and her husband already foster with them and they both spoke highly of the support and level of integrity they received. They described a family-type feeling from the fostering agency and this appealed to us. The first young person we fostered turned out to be a particularly emotional experience for us, and I was able to lean on the advice of Action for Children Fostering to help me as I adjusted to this new situation. They rang me to check how I was doing and were always on the end of the phone when I needed to talk things through.”

Sara and Rob continued: “The support from Action for Children has been fantastic. From the very beginning, they’ve been there every step of the way—whether it’s training, advice, or just someone to talk to. We’ve always felt valued and reassured, knowing help is only a phone call away. Their team really understands the challenges and joys of fostering, and that makes a huge difference.”

Find out more about our support.

When you get in touch, we don’t expect you to be fully equipped to foster. Together we can discover the skills and strengths you may not even know you have. We also offer extensive training so that you can continue to develop your skills, even after you’ve been approved to foster.

Pam, who fosters with her husband Linton for Action for Children Fostering in Northern Ireland, said: “When I heard ads on the radio over the years appealing for foster carers, I used to get very emotional, and I knew that I was meant to respond. I think we felt we weren’t equipped to do it, so we were hesitant, but we came to realise that it’s ok to respond BEFORE you are fully equipped. At Action for Children Fostering, you go through extensive training and learn as you go through the fostering preparation and application processes. And even now, we are still learning as we foster!”

Find out more about our training.

We focus on finding the right fit for everyone because we never want to see a breakdown in the relationship between the foster carer and the young people they care for.  Pam said: “When it comes to fostering, finding the right fit is an important part of the process. It reassured us to know that Action for Children Fostering consider our lifestyle, family situation, location and level of experience when looking at linking us with a young person. Nobody wants a fostering relationship to fail, so trying to reduce the likelihood of that is worth doing. Our social worker had spent nearly a year getting to know who we are, what our life is like and how a young person could be themselves in our home.  This meant they were in a great position to bring us and a young person together. We feel that Action for Children Fostering did a great job for us on all three occasions.”

Sometimes foster carers may feel that the young person coming to stay is not the right fit, and we encourage them to be honest about that. Pam said: “Sometimes it’s best to say no. This is difficult at the time as it’s a child that you are saying 'no' to. But if it won't be right for you or the child, it's best to say no before getting to the stage of introducing a young person into your home, and it then to fall apart. Action for Children Fostering understand this.”

Every child who comes into care has experienced some degree of trauma. What they need is to know they are valued, safe and cared for. To be a foster carer you don’t need to have a list of qualifications, and you don’t need to be perfect. Who you are is just what they need and we will be there every step of the way to provide support shaped around you. 

Sara and Rob explained: “If you are thinking of fostering, go for it! Fostering is one of the most rewarding things you can do. You have the chance to make a real difference in a child’s life, offering them love, stability, and hope when they need it most. Yes, there are challenges, but the support you receive and the joy of seeing a child thrive make it all worthwhile. If you have the space in your heart and home, fostering can truly change lives—including yours.”