We’re fostering a community that feels like family in South Gloucestershire.

Welcome. We’re delighted you’ve taken the first step to join South Gloucestershire’s biggest family. With over 200 children and young people in our care, we rely on local people like you to open your heart, your home and your family to them.

We know fostering can be challenging, which is why we work hard to build connection within our fostering community. We’re proud to offer our fostering families the award‑winning Mockingbird Family Model, as well as regular social opportunities for everyone in our fostering community.

We believe children thrive when they are kept close to their communities — and you can help make this possible. But don’t just take our word for it. Our carers think community is important too. As foster carer Rachel says: “Feeling part of a community is really important because I think foster caring could feel quite isolating otherwise.”

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Support every step of the way

Choose to foster with us and you’ll have all the support you need right on your doorstep. You’ll have a dedicated social worker and a local out‑of‑hours support team to call on.

We also have a friendly fostering community you can turn to for peer support. You have the option to join a Mockingbird constellation — a group of fostering households who act as your extended family network.

As your local authority, we know the area inside out: the schools, the professionals and the support networks the children in your care rely on. So, as a foster carer for us, everything you need will be nearby.

All of this comes alongside the usual support available to foster carers: reliable finances, specialist training, therapeutic help, and a range of practical perks and discounts.

The Mockingbird Family Model

With the Mockingbird Family Model, fostering comes with a community that feels like family.

The Mockingbird Family Model is an innovative approach to fostering that emphasises building supportive networks and communities around foster families. The Fostering Network’s Mockingbird programme uses an extended family model to nurture relationships between children, young people and foster families, supporting them to build a resilient and caring community.

We have a thriving Mockingbird community in South Gloucestershire, and our carers tell us they wouldn’t be without it.

Watch the video below to find out more about Mockingbird in South Glos.

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How Mockingbird works

Find out more about Mockingbird in South Gloucestershire >

Thank you for considering fostering with South Gloucestershire Council

We look forward to hearing from you.