Let’s talk
Illustrative family sharing a cheerful afternoon baking together

South Coast Fostering · Southern England

You could be
someone’s
fresh start.

A place at the table. Someone who listens. The everyday things you offer could mean everything to a child.

Let’s talk about fostering 023 8235 2020

You don’t need to be ready. Just curious.

OutstandingOfsted · all three areas · January 2026 In your cornerYour own social worker. Support 24/7. Close to homeA local team across Southern England.

Could I foster?

There’s no one kind
of foster carer.

Foster carers come from all walks of life. Being single, renting your home or being over 55 doesn’t automatically rule you out.

What matters is the time, patience and stability you can offer—and being willing to learn.

Ask us about your situation

Explore who can foster ↗

For most fostering, yes. A child needs a room of their own. Arrangements for babies can be different initially. We can talk through your home and the type of fostering you’re considering.

It can be possible, depending on your hours and flexibility. You’ll need time for school runs, appointments, meetings and the child’s day-to-day needs. Let’s look at what would be realistic for your household.

No. Your experience of caring for others, your relationships and your ability to provide a stable home all matter. We’ll get to know you properly and help you prepare through training and assessment.

That’s a good reason to get in touch. A first conversation is a chance to ask questions and understand your options. You choose whether—and when—to take another step.

Your team at South Coast

You won’t be
doing this alone.

Fostering asks a lot of you. Knowing the people around you—and knowing they’ll answer when you need them—makes a difference.

01 / PEOPLE

Someone who
knows you.

Your own supervising social worker, regular visits and manageable caseloads that make time for you.

02 / REASSURANCE

Someone who
picks up.

Experienced out-of-hours support, 24 hours a day. Difficult moments don’t keep office hours.

03 / CONFIDENCE

Space to learn.
Room to grow.

Practical training before approval and throughout your fostering, with opportunities to learn alongside other carers.

Illustrative family walking their dog along a sunny coastal footpath
For the ordinary days. And the not-so-ordinary ones.

Care you can have confidence in

Outstanding.
In every area.

Carers told inspectors they felt valued, listened to and well supported. SCF was rated Outstanding in all three areas in January 2026.

Read the independent report Meet the South Coast team

Making it work for your household

Let’s talk about
the money.

You need to know how fostering would work financially. We’re happy to have that conversation from the very beginning.

Your weekly payment includes an allowance for the child’s everyday needs and a professional fee for your role as a foster carer.

Talk through the numbers with us
STANDARD FOSTERING PAYMENTSPer child

Children aged 0–10

Allowance + professional fee

£479.50per week

Children aged 11+

Allowance + professional fee

£507.50per week

Paid while a child is placed with you. Different rates apply to specialist fostering. We also offer a council tax contribution.

See the full payment information

Rooted in your part of the world

Your town.
Your community.
Your South Coast.

Fostering locally can help children stay connected to their schools, friends and familiar places. We support foster carers across Southern England, in towns, cities and rural communities.

Ask us about fostering near you

A conversation, at your pace

Curious?
That’s enough to start.

You don’t need to know all the answers. Tell us a little about yourself, ask us what’s on your mind, and we’ll take it from there.

  1. We’ll listen to what brings you here.
  2. We’ll answer your questions honestly.
  3. You decide what happens next.
Prefer to speak to us?023 8235 2020Ask us on WhatsApp ↗

Usually 15–20 minutes. No pressure to apply.

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