Fostering in Hampshire

From bustling towns and coastal communities to rural villages and growing neighbourhoods, Hampshire is home to children from many different backgrounds. When a child cannot remain with their birth family, foster carers help provide the consistency and support they need to build confidence and look forward to the future.

At Action for Children Fostering, we're looking for compassionate people throughout Hampshire who can offer a nurturing home environment and a positive influence in a child's life. Whether you're new to fostering or exploring it after previous consideration, our experienced team will guide and support you throughout the entire process.

You don't need formal qualifications or specialist experience to become a foster carer. What matters most is your willingness to listen, care and provide a safe and supportive home where children can flourish.

If you have a spare room and the desire to make a positive difference, fostering could be one of the most rewarding decisions you'll ever make.

We recognise the important role foster carers play in helping children achieve positive outcomes. That's why we provide fostering payments designed to support both foster carers and the children they look after.

Our fostering payments include a fee and an allowance. The allowance helps cover the day-to-day costs of caring for a child, including food, clothing, travel, school-related expenses and activities. The fee recognises your commitment, skills and dedication as a foster carer.

The level of payment available varies depending on the type of fostering you provide and the individual needs of the child placed with you. Additional financial assistance may also be available for significant life events, special occasions and other placement-related requirements.

We want foster carers to feel financially supported so they can focus on creating positive experiences, strong relationships and stable environments where children feel secure.

By helping to remove financial concerns, we enable foster carers to concentrate on what matters most: supporting children to develop, grow and achieve their potential.

Fostering can be both incredibly rewarding and occasionally challenging. Having access to the right support can make a significant difference, which is why we place foster carer wellbeing and development at the heart of our service.

When you become a foster carer with Action for Children Fostering, you'll receive support from a dedicated supervising social worker who will provide practical guidance, regular supervision and professional advice throughout your fostering journey.

We take time to understand your circumstances, strengths and support needs so that the help you receive is tailored to you and your family.

Support available includes:

• Dedicated one-to-one guidance from a supervising social worker
• Regular foster carer support groups
• Peer networking opportunities
• Specialist advice and professional expertise
• Ongoing practical and emotional support
• Out-of-hours assistance for urgent situations

Many foster carers tell us that connecting with others who foster is one of the most valuable aspects of their support network. Sharing experiences, discussing challenges and celebrating achievements with fellow carers can provide reassurance and encouragement whenever it's needed.

Our goal is to ensure every foster carer feels confident, informed and supported throughout their fostering experience.

Children in care often have unique experiences and individual needs. That's why we provide high-quality training designed to help foster carers develop the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to support them effectively.

Training begins before approval and continues throughout your fostering journey. Every course is provided free of charge and forms part of a structured programme of ongoing professional development.

Skills to Foster

This introductory training provides a detailed overview of fostering and explores topics such as child development, fostering responsibilities, attachment, communication and working with other professionals involved in a child's life.

Therapeutic Parenting

Children who enter care may have experienced trauma, neglect or significant disruption. Therapeutic parenting training helps carers understand how these experiences can affect children's development and behaviour while providing practical techniques for building trust and security.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training equips carers with essential knowledge around child protection, online safety, emotional wellbeing, health and recognising potential risks facing children and young people.

Ongoing Development Opportunities

Once approved, foster carers continue to access advanced learning and development opportunities. Additional training can be tailored to your experience level, the children in your care and your individual fostering interests.

Through continuous learning and support, we help carers create welcoming homes where children can feel safe, understood and encouraged to succeed.

Many people are surprised by how diverse the fostering community is. There is no single type of person who becomes a foster carer, and children benefit from a wide range of experiences, perspectives and family environments.

Generally, if you're over 21, have a spare bedroom and have the right to live and work in the UK, you may be eligible to foster.

We welcome enquiries from:

• Single people
• Married couples and partners
• Parents and people without children
• Homeowners and tenants
• Working professionals
• Retired people
• People from all cultural, ethnic and faith backgrounds
• Members of the LGBTQ+ community
• People living with disabilities

Successful foster carers come from many different walks of life. The qualities that matter most are patience, empathy, resilience and a commitment to helping children feel valued and supported.

By fostering in Hampshire, you could help provide a child with stability during a difficult period and give them the opportunity to build confidence, develop positive relationships and create a brighter future.

Contact our Hampshire fostering team today to find out more about becoming a foster carer and the difference you could make to a child's life.