Why foster with a charity?

For us, fostering is about giving infants, children and young people the opportunity to live somewhere safe. Somewhere they can grow and flourish and experience the positives of childhood. We measure our success by the exceptional outcomes we achieve for young people. As a not for profit, any money we make is put back into the organisation to support vulnerable children and young people.

Being a charity allows us to focus on what matters: supporting our foster carers. We do not expect our foster carers to fit into a mould. We celebrate their individuality. We know who has five cats. We know who runs marathons for fun. We know who is a Lego whizz. By getting to really know our foster carers, we can tailor our support to fit around their lives.

All Action for Children foster carers receive:

• Regular training and supervision
• 24-hour phone support
• Therapeutic support
• Carers’ buddy system
• Regular support groups

As a charity, we’re committed to making our community better. That’s why we have a focus on transparency. We are answerable to the public, our service users, the Charity Commission and our Board of Trustees. We are also regulated by national regulators across the UK. Our work is not for profit and it's about showing we have made a tangible difference to our foster carers, and to the lives of the infants, children, and young people they care for.

There’s a reason we’re called Action for Children Fostering because we take action for children. Children are at the heart of every decision we make. We use a thorough application and assessment process because we want to find the right people to look after the most vulnerable children in our society. We focus on finding the right fit between a foster carer and a young person. That’s because we want to increase the chances of creating stability and a feeling of family for children and young people. We make decisions based on what will achieve the best outcomes for children.

Established in 1869, Action for Children is one of the oldest and largest registered children’s charities in the UK. For over 150 years, we’ve been helping vulnerable children, young people, and families. At Action for Children Fostering, we offer stability to our foster carers and the young people they support. We have small, dedicated teams and low staff turnover. That way, you can enjoy consistency and will know who is on the other end of the phone. We place an emphasis on linking a young person with a foster carer who has the skills and strengths they need. We create a sense of family by getting that fit right. This allows a young person the greatest chance to find a place to call home. One where they can feel safe being truly themselves.

Why choose us?