1. A Shortage of Thousands—And Growing
- The UK is currently experiencing a significant foster care deficit. According to The Fostering Network, there is a shortfall of approximately 6,000 foster carers nationwide.
- Parliamentary reports echo this figure, estimating that about 6,500 additional carers are needed to meet demand.
2. Fewer Carers, More Children
- England has seen a decline in approved fostering households—from 45,370 in 2021 to 42,615 in 2024—a sharp 6% drop.
- At the same time, there has been an increase in children needing care. The Independent reports that applications from prospective carer families fell by 18% since 2018–19, while placements rose by 7%—leading to a 45% increase in expensive residential care placements.
3. What’s Driving the Decline?
Several pressuring factors are contributing to the shortage:
- Retiring carers vs. a lack of new recruits: Barnardo’s warns that retirements aren’t being matched by younger carers stepping forward.
- Demographic perceptions: A survey found 82% of adults aged over 55 felt “too old” to foster, despite this being the average age among current carers. Many younger adults also cited wanting biological children and lacking accommodation or financial security.
- Burnout and lack of support: Research shows poor retention. Approximately 46% of current carers have considered resigning, with another 14% actively planning to. The top reason? Feeling unsupported and undervalued by fostering services and professionals.
4. Children Face Growing Risks
The shortage is having profound consequences on vulnerable children:
- Out-of-area placements: 13% of children are placed over 20 miles from home authority, disrupting their education and support systems.
- Placement instability: Siblings are often separated, and some children end up in settings that don’t suit their needs—simply because better options aren’t available.
- Barnardo’s emphasizes the distress, warning of children feeling “passed from pillar to post” without stable, nurturing homes.
5. What’s Being Done—And What We Still Need
- Financial pledges: The UK government has committed £16 million for 2025–26, followed by £25 million for 2026–28 to recruit 400 new foster households and strengthen peer and professional support.
- Parliamentary reforms: Lawmakers urge a national fostering strategy, including better housing policy integration to enable recruitment, and equal support for kinship carers as foster carers.
- Regulatory actions: Wales is set to ban for-profit providers of children’s care—aiming to shift toward charitable, community-focused models by 2026–2030.
6. Voices from the Field
- A powerful first-person narrative shared the emotional and systemic toll: with 60% of foster carers reporting exhaustion and meager compensation (sometimes as low as £0.70/hr), yet still describing fostering as deeply rewarding.
- In a heartening counterpoint, a 75-year-old turned foster mum, proving age is no barrier to providing life-changing care—and highlighting the urgent need for more carers.
Summary at a Glance
| Trend | Insight |
|---|---|
| Crisis scale | Thousands of carers needed; foster household numbers are dropping. |
| Key drivers | Aging carer demographic, financial pressures, burnout, lack of support. |
| Impact on children | Less local placements, sibling separation, instability. |
| Government response | Multi-year funding, calls for strategic reforms, regulatory changes. |
| Real stories | Emotional strain, but profound fulfillment; encouraging signs from older carers. |