Become a Foster Carer in Southern England
Thousands of children in the UK need safe, stable homes. Could you provide the care, consistency and encouragement a child needs to thrive?
South Coast Fostering
Can you give a home to a child in need?
There are over 50,000 children in fostering in the UK, and it’s our mission to help find every one of them a safe, loving and nurturing home
How You Can Help Through Fostering?
Fostering offers a number of different ways to support children and young people in care. Whether you can provide long-term stability, short-term care or respite support, your commitment could make a lasting difference to a child’s future.
Become a carer
The #1 thing you can do to help a child, is become a foster carer
Talk to your friends about fostering
If you can’t foster yourself you could talk to your friends and family to see if they can. We will actually reward you for anyone that becomes an approved carer for us.
Give a helping hand to a care leaver
Care leavers might need a helping hand, we have some ideas about how to help
Meet some of our carers
Foster carers aren’t super hero’s walking around in capes, they are people just like you and me!
Success Stories: Julie & taya
Taya has been living with Julie for 4 years! She talks about what it’s been like, and has some advice for potential foster carers.
Sucess Stories
Together, we can make a difference. Since 1998 our group of fostering agencies has:
Change a Child’s Future Through Fostering
Fostering is a significant commitment. It isn’t always straightforward, but with the right support around you, it can be profoundly rewarding.
By becoming a foster carer, you can offer stability, encouragement and a safe, nurturing home to a child who needs it most.
It’s warm, realistic and authoritative — and it aligns with your relational, support-led positioning.
If you’d like, I can now help shape the closing CTA beneath this section to gently guide people toward chat or an enquiry without sounding pushy.
Next Steps
Depending on where you are in your fostering journey, we have a few suggested next steps.
Download Our Guide To Fostering
Arrange for a call back
Ask us a question via whatsapp
We keep your personal information safe, and only use it to contact you in the way you’ve asked us to.
Reviews from our Carers
We believe we provide exceptional support to our carers.
But don’t just take our word for it, here are some reviews that our carers have left us Google.
David T – July 2020
As foster carers we have always received helpful and professional support from our Supervising Social Worker. The admin, training and finance teams have always provided responsive and first class support.
Events, networking and social gatherings [pre-Covid] have been well organised and regularly provided.
Shell – April 21
The agency and in particular our supervising social worker is phenomenal. She always goes above and beyond to make sure we are guided and supported in order for the child to get the best care they deserve. We really do feel like a village caring for a child.
Gill – May 21
We’ve been fostering for some time now and we’ve always found the level, accessibility and quality of support and supervision excellent; all three SSWs we’ve had were experienced, professional and lovely to work with; this was what we were looking for when first starting to foster, it was invaluable.
With us, A Child isn't just given a home, They're given a chance!
We think fostering is more than just providing a home, it’s about building positive aspirations in children and young people, helping them achieve great things.
Become a Foster Carer with South Coast Fostering
Fostering means providing a safe, stable and nurturing home for a child who cannot live with their birth family. Across Southern England – from Kent and Sussex through to Hampshire, Dorset and Bristol – children need foster carers who can offer consistency, patience and encouragement.
At South Coast Fostering, we support individuals and families who want to become foster carers and make a lasting difference in their local community. With the right guidance, training and 24/7 support, fostering can be one of the most meaningful roles you will ever take on.
Foster care plays a vital role in helping children feel secure, build confidence and begin to trust again. While every child’s journey is different, the stability of a caring home can make a significant impact on their wellbeing and future.
“Fostering provides children with the safety, stability and understanding they need at a time when it matters most.”
There remains a real need for foster carers across Southern England. When there are not enough local carers, children may have to move further away from their schools, friends and support networks. By becoming a foster carer in your area, you help children stay connected to the communities they know.
The Rewards and Responsibilities of Fostering
Fostering is both rewarding and demanding. It requires commitment, resilience and compassion. With the right support in place, it can also bring deep purpose and fulfilment.
- Making a measurable difference: Foster carers provide stability and routine at a time when children need it most.
- Building meaningful relationships: Many carers develop lasting, positive connections with the children they support.
- Ongoing professional support: With training, a dedicated supervising social worker and 24/7 advice, you are never alone in your fostering journey.
- Strengthening your community: Fostering locally helps children remain close to their schools, friendships and familiar surroundings.
What are the different types of fostering?
Did you know there are different types of fostering.
Short Term/Emergency
About 60% of our placements are either made in an emergency, or are considered short term.
Long Term/Permanent
About 40% of our placements are considered to be long term or permanently matched.
Parent and Child
Some of our carers also specialise by fostering a parent and their child.
Baby Fostering
We are actively recruiting foster carers for babies. You don’t need to have a spare bedroom as a baby only carer.
Join the South Coast Fostering Community
When you foster with South Coast Fostering, you become part of a supportive and professional community across Southern England. From Kent and Sussex through to Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and Bristol, we work with dedicated individuals and families who want to make a meaningful difference in their local area.
As an independent fostering agency, we pride ourselves on offering a personal approach. Our supervising social workers maintain manageable caseloads, meaning you receive consistent guidance, regular contact and genuine relationship-based support. Alongside comprehensive training and 24/7 advice, you will always have a team around you.
We are continually looking for caring, resilient people across the areas we cover who are ready to become foster carers and provide safe, stable homes for children and young people.
If you are considering fostering, an informal conversation is often the best place to begin. Our team is here to answer your questions and help you explore whether fostering could be right for you.
book a call about fostering:
We’d be happy to give you a 15-20 minute call to talk about fostering! Don’t worry, there’s no pressure from us – it’s honestly a chance for you to ask us any questions you have about fostering, and your suitability. Just complete this short form:
Start Your Fostering Journey with South Coast Fostering
If you’re thinking about becoming a foster carer in Southern England, the first step is often the hardest. Our role is to make that step clear, supportive and straightforward.
At South Coast Fostering, we work with individuals and families across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and Bristol who want to provide safe and stable homes for children in care. From your initial enquiry through to approval and beyond, you will receive structured training, consistent guidance and 24/7 support.
Register Your Interest
Begin by registering to foster. This allows our team to learn a little about you and arrange an informal conversation to answer your questions. There is no obligation — just an opportunity to explore whether fostering is right for you.
Training and Ongoing Support
Becoming a foster carer involves preparation, assessment and learning. We provide comprehensive pre-approval training, followed by continuous professional development once you are approved.
- Foster carer learning, development and training
- Dedicated foster carer support with a supervising social worker
- Out-of-hours advice and guidance
- Peer support through local networks and groups
Fostering Allowances and Financial Support
Foster carers receive a competitive fostering allowance to cover the costs of caring for a child, alongside a professional fee in recognition of their role. This financial support helps ensure you can focus on providing stability and care.
You can find full details on our fostering allowance page.
Types of Fostering Available
There are different types of fostering to suit your experience, availability and family circumstances:
- Short-term fostering – offering temporary care while plans are made for a child’s future.
- Long-term fostering – providing a stable home for a child until adulthood.
- Parent and child fostering – supporting a parent and their baby to develop safe and confident parenting skills.
Refer a Friend
Know someone who would make an excellent foster carer? You can refer a friend and receive a referral reward once they are approved.
Ready to explore fostering? Start with a relaxed conversation via our website chat or complete a short enquiry form. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
