South Gloucestershire Council is proud to support Coram BAAF’s Private Fostering Awareness Day on Wednesday 5 November 2025.
This national day shines a light on private fostering, a care arrangement where a child or young person is looked after by someone who is not their parent or a close relative, for 28 days or more.
If you’re currently caring for someone else’s child in this way, or planning to, it’s important to let us know.
What is Private Fostering?
Private fostering involves a child or young person under the age of 16 (or under 18 if they have a disability) being cared for by someone who is not:
- Their parent
- A close relative (such as a grandparent, sibling, aunt, or uncle)
This arrangement must last more than 28 days.
Examples of private fostering include:
- A child whose parent is in hospital or unable to care for them
- Children from overseas staying in the UK for education or medical treatment
- Young people living with a friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend due to family breakdown
- Children living away from home for sports or music sponsorships
Why you need to tell the Council
By law, you must inform the Council if you’re entering into a private fostering arrangement. This helps us make sure the child or young person is:
- Safe
- Well cared for
- Happy
We’ll carry out essential checks and offer support to both the child and the carer. This includes advice on:
- Education
- Benefits
- Other services that help provide stability and reassurance
How to get in touch
If you’re a parent arranging private fostering, or a carer about to start looking after a child, please contact our Kinship Team before the arrangement begin, or as soon as possible after it starts. Call us on 01454 868 222 or visit South Gloucestershire’s Safeguarding Children Partnership website
A message from our Kinship Team
Louise Thomas, Kinship Team Manager, says:
“If you’re going to look after a child for more than 28 days, or if you’re a parent or carer putting this arrangement in place, please get in touch with us.
We can offer support to both the child and the carer, including advice around education and benefit entitlement. This can make a real difference to the child’s wellbeing and help create a more stable environment.”
