About South Coast Fostering
About South Coast Fostering
South Coast Fostering was established in 2020, growing from one of the most established independent fostering agencies in the UK, Greater London Fostering (GLF). GLF has been successfully recruiting, training and supporting foster carers for over 20 years.
As our community of carers along the South Coast continued to grow, it became clear that a dedicated regional agency would allow for even stronger local support and closer professional relationships. Foster carers in this area wanted an agency focused specifically on Southern England — one that understood the unique needs of local communities.
South Coast Fostering was created to meet that need.
Children Are At The Heart Of Everything We Do
We Promote Positive Aspirations In Everyone
We Always Do The Right Thing Not The Easy Thing
Strong Foundations, Local Focus
Although South Coast Fostering operates as its own agency, we continue to work closely with our sister agencies, Greater London Fostering and Fostering Hearts.
This structure means we benefit from shared expertise, robust systems and the strength of a wider organisation, while remaining small enough to maintain a genuinely local and personal community feel.
Our carers receive the best of both worlds — the stability and resources of an established group, alongside the accessibility and responsiveness of a regional agency.
All three agencies sit under the umbrella of the Positive Aspirations Group.
Our name reflects our shared purpose: to nurture positive aspirations in children, foster carers and staff alike. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow with confidence, stability and hope for the future. At the same time, we are committed to supporting our carers and team members to develop professionally and personally within a strong, values-led organisation.
book a call about fostering:
We’d be happy to give you a 15-20 minute call to tell you 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;
A Personal Approach to Fostering
As an independent fostering agency, we are able to offer a more personalised service than many larger organisations.
Our supervising social workers maintain manageable caseloads, allowing them to build meaningful relationships with the carers they support. This means:
Regular, consistent contact
Thoughtful supervision
Responsive decision-making
Practical support when challenges arise
We understand that fostering can be demanding. That is why we prioritise availability, accessibility and clear communication.
Meet our team!
Whilst it takes more than a web page to get to know us, this is a good start.
Meet Richard, Our Director
Richard is the son of the founder of Positive Aspirations, and has been the director of Positive Aspirations group since 2020.
He worked in almost all job roles in our sister agency, before going off to complete a Masters in Business Administration in 2012. After that he went to work as a management consultant with McKinsey. He then worked for a period with a company called Telephonica, who own the mobile network O2.
Outside of work, he has a passion for cooking and spent a year training as a chef! During this time he also learnt all about wine, which remains a bit of a hobby.
The best part of the job is seeing a young person find their spark, that thing that gets them motivated!
Meet Melanie, our Responsible Individual
Melanie has worked within the Positive Aspirations Group since 2012, and has grown to become the Responsible Individual for all three fostering agencies.
This means she is in charge of all the day to day running of each IFA!
Melanie has a background in human resources and recruitment and loves to bring structure and order to everything we do.
Outside of work she is an active grandmother, and an even more active dog lover.
I am in awe of the work our foster carers do.
At times they must have the hardest job in the world, but this also means at times it must be the most rewarding
Meet Ahmez, Our Finance Manager
Ahmez has been with the agency since 2008. During that time he’s updated our financial management, allowing us to grow as a group without needing outside investment.
He is an qualified accountant and a stickler for details.
As well as being charge of the day to day finances, he also leads all our contract work!
When he’s not knee deep in an excel spreadsheet, he spends all his time running after his two adorable children.
I'm so proud to be a part of this agency.
Everyday I see an example of the difference our community makes to children. Even though my time is spent looking at numbers, everyone at the office is really good at sharing and talking about all the positive work they do, so I feel part of the bigger picture.
Meet Sally, our Manager
Sally joined South Coast Fostering in April 2022. She is a very experienced fostering manager, who has worked for both large and small agencies.
She’s committed to ensuring foster parents are always well supported and treated as part of the team.
She was also a foster carer for many years, so she knows exactly what carers go through!
It’s a privilege to work alongside fantastic foster families and to see the children they care for thrive and climb their own personal mountains.
Sally Barnett
How we support you
Fostering is a significant commitment, and the level of support you receive matters. At South Coast Fostering, we believe strong support for foster carers leads directly to better outcomes for children.
From your very first enquiry, you will have a named point of contact who guides you through each stage of the process. During assessment, we ensure you are well prepared and fully informed about what fostering involves. Our aim is not simply to approve carers, but to prepare confident, capable and supported foster families.
Once approved, you will be allocated a dedicated supervising social worker. We keep caseloads manageable so that supervision is meaningful and consistent. This allows time for reflective discussions, problem-solving and proactive planning rather than reactive crisis management.
You will also have access to 24/7 out-of-hours support. If challenges arise in the evening or at the weekend, you will always be able to speak to an experienced professional. Fostering does not operate on a nine-to-five schedule, and neither do we.
Training and development form a central part of our support model. We provide structured ongoing learning covering areas such as attachment, trauma-informed care, safeguarding, behaviour support and child development. We see fostering as a professional role, and we invest accordingly in your development.
In addition to professional guidance, we encourage peer support through local groups and community events across Southern England. Many carers value the opportunity to share experiences and advice with others who understand the realities of fostering.
Foster Carers Are Part Of The Team
As a foster carer, you are the most crucial part of the team supporting a child. If you aren’t treated as an equal professional then how can you do your job?
We Do What We Say
There is nothing worse than hollow promises. We pride ourselves on doing what we say and when we say we’ll do it.
Getting To Know The Whole Family
No one fosters in isolation, so we make sure we get to know your family, and support network. They are important and their thoughts are always taken into consideration when making decisions.
Being Paid On Time And Correctly
One frustration we hear from carers who transfer to us from other agencies is that they are being paid incorrectly or late. We ensure this doesn’t happen, so you can focus on the important stuff, fostering!
Download
Our Guide To Fostering
It’s free and packed full of info
Just complete the form at the bottom of the page
Now You’ve Met Us, We’d Love to Get to Know You
Here is a more confident, professional and reassuring version that keeps the warmth but strengthens clarity and tone:
We hope this has given you a clearer understanding of who we are and what we stand for.
Now we would very much like to learn more about you.
Fostering simply cannot happen without dedicated foster carers. Each year, new carers are needed across Southern England to provide safe, stable homes for children who are unable to live with their birth families.
At the same time, some experienced foster carers choose to step back from the role — whether through retirement, changes in personal circumstances or new commitments. That is a natural part of fostering, but it does mean there is an ongoing need for compassionate, resilient individuals and families to come forward.
If you are considering becoming a foster carer, even at the earliest stage of exploring the idea, we would welcome a conversation. An informal chat can help you understand what fostering involves and whether it could be right for you.
You can start by using our website chat, completing a short enquiry form, or requesting a call back at a time that suits you.
We hope this has given you a clear sense of who we are, how we work, and what matters to us.
Now we would love to hear about you.
Fostering relies on committed, compassionate people who are willing to open their homes and provide stability for children who cannot remain with their birth families. Across Southern England, there is a continued need for new foster carers each year to ensure children can stay as close as possible to their communities, schools and support networks.
It is also natural that some experienced carers choose to step back over time — through retirement, changes in family circumstances or new responsibilities. While that reflects the life stages of fostering, it means there is always room for new individuals and families to step forward.
If you are beginning to think about becoming a foster carer, even if you are simply gathering information, a conversation is the best place to start. We will answer your questions honestly and help you understand what fostering involves, without pressure or obligation.
You can begin by using our website chat, completing a short enquiry form, or requesting a call back at a time that works for you.