If you’ve ever thought about fostering, you’ve probably asked yourself: could I actually do this?
If you’ve got patience, empathy, and the willingness to learn, the answer is yes – you could make a fantastic foster carer and have a life-changing impact on a child or young person.
At FCL, we’re here to walk you through every step, from your first question to your first placement, and everything in between and beyond.
The word ‘foster’ comes from the Old English word ‘fostrian’, meaning ‘to nourish or feed’.
There’s a little more involved in fostering than simply feeding a child, but the idea of physical and emotional nourishment definitely still applies.
Foster care is about supporting a child who may have had a really tough time, experiencing trauma, instability, abandonment, or loss.
It’s a foster carer’s job to take care of them and help them feel safe again.
That might look like:
Fostering is one of the most rewarding and meaningful things you can do, and we’ll be by your side every step of the way.
Fostering is a big responsibility, but it’s often a lot more flexible than people expect.
When you foster with us, you can:
Some carers treat fostering as their main role, while others fit it around school hours or flexible work. We’ll help you find what works for you.
Unlike larger agencies, we’re a small, family-run organisation dedicated to supporting you and your foster child or children.
Because we’re a smaller, family-run agency, you’ll be supported by a team who know you, understand you, and are there for you every step of the way.
24/7 on-call support - there's always someone on the other end of the phone.
Our foster families and children love our regular events, from activity days to trips, with birth families welcome too.
Use our simple calculator to get an idea of weekly payments based on your experience.
“I felt supported, respected, and prepared from the start.”
One of our carers joined FCL as a new foster carer, looking for an agency that would offer the right level of support and guidance.
“The team have been approachable, informative, and genuinely interested in making sure I understand the realities of fostering – not just rushing me through the process.”
With ongoing support, training, and 24-hour guidance, they’ve felt confident every step of the way.
Every child is different. Some may need short-term care for a night, a weekend, or a few weeks. Others may stay with you for months or years.
You may support children of all ages and backgrounds who:
Matching is a big part of what we do, so we take the time to understand your home, your family situation, your experience and your strengths – this means that when a child joins you, it’s the right fit for everyone involved.
All ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and marital status are welcome – there’s no typical or ideal carer, as long as you have an open heart and a spare room.
What’s more important is that you have a nurturing, positive outlook, life experience and resilience to guide a child to develop similar skills.
Our carers include:
You don’t need prior experience – we’ll provide you with training and support to understand trauma and care for the child so they can overcome their experiences and start a new chapter.
The fostering assessment process takes around 4-6 months on average, and up to 8 months depending on your circumstances.
During this time, we’ll guide you through:
The smallest, ‘everyday’ things you do to care for a child can change the course of their lives, like:
These things might feel small and ‘normal’ to you, but they can be life-changing to them.
Interested in applying to become a foster carer? We’d love to talk to you.
Get in touch with our friendly team for a relaxed conversation to see how much you could help a deserving child get the care and attention they need.
No. It can make day-to-day life easier, especially for school runs and appointments, but it’s not mandatory.
Yes. Many carers work part-time or in flexible roles.
Yes, you’ll receive a weekly fostering allowance to support you and the child.
Yes. We provide planned respite or additional support so you can take breaks.