Fostering in Bristol

Bristol is a vibrant and diverse city with communities from many different backgrounds. Children who come into care often need more than a place to stay. They need trusted adults who can help them feel secure, build confidence and develop the skills they need for the future.

At Action for Children, we're seeking foster carers across Bristol who can offer understanding, patience and a nurturing home. Foster carers play a crucial role in helping children maintain routines, continue their education and access opportunities that support their development.

You don't need previous fostering experience to become a foster carer. Whether you're single, married, working, retired, a homeowner or tenant, we'll provide the training and support needed to help you succeed.

If you have a spare room and want to make a lasting difference to a child's life, fostering could be one of the most rewarding journeys you'll ever undertake.

We know that becoming a foster carer is a significant commitment, which is why we provide financial support designed to help you focus on caring for the child in your home.

Fostering payments consist of both allowances and fees. Allowances help cover the day-to-day costs associated with caring for a child, including food, clothing, transport, hobbies and household expenses. Fees recognise the important contribution foster carers make and the training, time and dedication involved in the role.

The amount paid will depend on the type of fostering you undertake and the individual needs of the child or young person placed with you. Additional financial support may also be available for important life events, educational activities and other specific circumstances.

Our goal is to ensure foster carers feel financially supported and able to provide children with positive experiences, opportunities and stability.

By reducing financial pressures, we help foster families concentrate on building strong relationships and helping children achieve their full potential.

When you foster with Action for Children Fostering, you'll become part of a supportive community that is committed to helping you succeed.

Every foster carer is allocated a dedicated supervising social worker who will provide regular support, professional guidance and practical advice throughout their fostering journey. We take the time to understand your individual circumstances so that support can be tailored to your needs.

We also understand the value of peer support. Connecting with other foster carers can provide reassurance, encouragement and practical insights based on shared experiences.

Foster carers in Bristol can access:

• Dedicated support from an experienced supervising social worker
• Regular supervision and fostering reviews
• Support groups and opportunities to meet other carers
• Practical guidance and advice
• Specialist support and expertise where needed
• Out-of-hours assistance for urgent situations

Many foster carers find comfort in knowing they are part of a wider network of people who understand the challenges and rewards of fostering.

Our aim is to ensure every foster carer feels supported, informed and confident throughout every stage of their fostering journey.

Children and young people in care may have experienced trauma, instability or difficult life circumstances. To help foster carers provide the best possible support, we offer comprehensive training from the very beginning of the fostering process.

All training is provided free of charge and continues throughout your fostering career. Our learning programmes are designed to equip foster carers with the skills, confidence and understanding needed to meet children's changing needs.

Skills to Foster

This introductory course provides an overview of the fostering role, covering child development, attachment, fostering responsibilities and working alongside professionals involved in a child's care.

Therapeutic Parenting

Understanding how trauma and loss affect children is a vital part of fostering. This training helps carers develop supportive approaches that build trust, strengthen relationships and promote emotional wellbeing.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training covers key areas including child protection, online safety, health and wellbeing, recognising risk factors and understanding issues affecting children and young people today.

Advanced Development Opportunities

Once approved, foster carers continue to access ongoing learning opportunities. Training can be tailored to your experience and the needs of the children in your care, helping you develop specialist knowledge and greater confidence.

Our commitment to learning and development helps foster carers provide safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive.

Many people think fostering isn't for them, but successful foster carers come from a wide range of backgrounds, communities and life 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 may be able to become a foster carer.

We welcome enquiries from:

• Single people
• 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 "perfect" foster carer. Children need different kinds of homes and benefit from having access to a variety of positive adult role models.

What matters most is your ability to provide care, patience, understanding and a stable home environment where a child can feel safe and valued.

By becoming a foster carer in Bristol, you could help change a child's future by providing the support, encouragement and opportunities they need to succeed.

Contact our Bristol fostering team today to find out more about fostering and how we can help you begin your journey.