Fostering in Leeds

For many children, being unable to live with their birth family can be unsettling and challenging. Foster carers provide much more than a place to stay. They offer guidance, structure and positive relationships that help children build confidence and develop a stronger sense of belonging.

At Action for Children Fostering, we're looking for people from across Leeds who are willing to open their homes to children who need care and support. Whether you live in a busy urban neighbourhood or a quieter residential area, fostering can provide an opportunity to make a lasting difference in your local community.

You don't need to have worked with children before or have previous fostering experience. We're looking for people with patience, resilience and a genuine commitment to helping children succeed.

If you have a spare room and want to create positive change in a child's life, fostering could be the rewarding opportunity you've been searching for.

We recognise that foster carers make an incredible contribution to children's lives. That's why we provide financial support designed to help carers focus on what matters most: providing a safe and nurturing home.

Our fostering payments include an allowance and a fee. The allowance helps cover the everyday costs associated with caring for a child, including food, clothing, travel, leisure activities and household expenses. The fee reflects the time, commitment and skills involved in fostering.

The exact amount you receive will vary depending on the type of fostering you undertake and the needs of the child placed with you. In some situations, additional support may also be available to help with educational activities, celebrations and other experiences that contribute to a child's wellbeing and development.

We aim to ensure foster carers feel financially secure and have the resources needed to provide high-quality care.

By supporting carers practically, we help them create positive family environments where children can feel valued, supported and encouraged to thrive.

We know that fostering can be both incredibly rewarding and occasionally demanding. Having the right support network is essential, which is why we place a strong emphasis on supporting foster carers throughout every stage of their journey.

When you become a foster carer with Action for Children Fostering, you'll have a dedicated supervising social worker who will provide regular guidance, practical advice and ongoing support. We work alongside you to help build confidence and find solutions to any challenges that arise.

Alongside professional support, you'll also have access to a wider fostering community where you can connect with people who understand the realities of the role.

Our support includes:

• A dedicated supervising social worker
• Regular supervision sessions and home visits
• Foster carer support groups
• Networking opportunities with other carers
• Access to specialist advice and expertise
• Out-of-hours support when urgent help is needed

Many foster carers tell us that peer support becomes one of the most valuable parts of their fostering experience. Sharing knowledge, experiences and practical advice can make a real difference.

Our goal is to ensure foster carers always feel supported, appreciated and well equipped to provide the best possible care.

Providing exceptional care starts with excellent preparation. That's why we offer a wide range of training opportunities designed to help foster carers build confidence, knowledge and practical skills.

All training is provided free of charge and begins before approval. Learning continues throughout your fostering journey, supporting your ongoing development and helping you meet the changing needs of children and young people.

Skills to Foster

This introductory programme provides a comprehensive overview of fostering. It covers topics such as attachment, child development, communication, safeguarding and understanding the foster carer role.

Therapeutic Parenting

Many children entering care have experienced trauma, loss or disruption. Therapeutic parenting training helps carers understand these experiences and develop approaches that support emotional wellbeing, trust and recovery.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training explores child protection, online safety, mental wellbeing, health and recognising circumstances that may place children at risk.

Advanced Learning Opportunities

As your fostering experience develops, you'll have access to additional courses and specialist learning opportunities that help you build on your skills and respond confidently to a range of fostering situations.

Our training programme is designed to help foster carers feel capable, informed and prepared to support children to reach their full potential.

Many people who become successful foster carers are surprised to discover they're eligible. Foster carers come from a broad range of backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences.

In most cases, if you're over 21, have a spare bedroom and have the right to live and work in the UK, you could be eligible to foster.

We welcome applications from:

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

There is no single profile of a foster carer because children need different types of homes and positive role models that reflect the diversity of their communities.

The qualities we value most are empathy, patience, reliability and a genuine desire to help children feel safe and supported.

By fostering in Leeds, you could play an important role in helping a child build confidence, overcome challenges and create a brighter future.

Contact our Leeds fostering team today to learn more about becoming a foster carer and discover the support available to help you get started.