While foster carers share the desire to help children and young people in need, they all come from all different walks of life, and each have their own personal reasons why they foster. Read on to find out what some of them are.

When we talk to prospective foster carers, we explain what’s involved with fostering, how the application process works and how long it’s likely to take before they’re approved. But what’s also important is the ‘why’. So why do people foster?
Why do people foster?
It’s no secret that fostering is hugely challenging, yet very rewarding. While people who choose to foster all share the desire to help children and young people in need, they each have their own personal reasons why they foster. And they tend to mull over their ‘why’ before fully committing to fostering.
Five reasons to foster
- “I wanted to work with children and young people in a rewarding role where I’m well supported”. As well as financial support, foster carers benefit from thorough training to prepare them for fostering, as well as ongoing development and professional support.
- “I know someone who is a foster carer / was fostered and I think it’s something I could do.” People who have personal experience with the foster care system or know someone who has often understand the needs and challenges of foster children.
- “My children have grown up and I want a new sense of purpose.” People whose children have left home have the experience, the space and the time to focus on fostering and often have the desire to do something good for the community.
- “I don’t have children but feel I could be a good role model / parental figure.” For those who can’t or choose not to have paternal children, fostering can be a good option. Fostering can work well for underrepresented groups, providing an opportunity to care for a child or children without being a biological parent.
- “I have a background in the care industry which has given me relevant skills and empathy.” People that work in relevant industries such as healthcare, education, social work and childcare often make them well-suited to fostering. Many foster carers can also work alongside fostering.
Fostering community
There are around 70 fostering households in South Glos, offering safe, stable and loving homes to children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families.
These families provide different types of foster care to meet the unique needs of those they care for. From emergency and long-term, to short-break and specialist, our foster carers provide a vital role for these young lives.
Aside from people’s personal reasons for fostering, there is an increased emphasis on building a close fostering community and nurturing peer-to-peer support. At South Glos, our foster families benefit by coming together at regular events and we also offer the award-winning Mockingbird Family Model, where constellations of foster families act like extended family.
If you think you could foster, or would like to find out more get in touch.