South east councils join forces to recruit more foster carers

We’ve joined up with councils from across the south east to create the country’s largest local authority fostering partnership, in a bid to increase the number of foster carers across the region.

With over 11,000 children in care across the south east, and fewer than 3,000 local authority approved foster carers, there is an urgent need to recruit more people to provide safe, loving, and local homes for vulnerable children.

Launching today, Local Authority Fostering South East is a new virtual fostering hub bringing together the expertise of 20 councils across the region.

Providing the best support

The new hub will ensure prospective foster carers have access to a centralised platform for their initial enquiries about fostering and will see local authorities work collaboratively to provide the best support, right from the start of a carer’s fostering journey.

The new regional hub will be running marketing campaigns to raise awareness of this unique role and encourage more people to take the next step and become a foster carer with their local council.

In doing so they will benefit from comprehensive local training, generous financial assistance, and ongoing support from a non-profit organisation.

Natasha Sampson, south east regional strategic lead, said: “This is a really exciting time for fostering. For the first time in the south east, we are leveraging the collective skills, knowledge, resources and support of 20 local authorities to ensure children and young people have a stable home, in a loving family, which they all deserve.

“The new hub will make this possible by increasing the number of local foster carers and making sure they are well supported through their recruitment journey and beyond.

“I would urge anyone interested in fostering to get in touch with us to find out more about becoming a foster carer with your local authority.”

'Amazing thing to do'

Brighton & Hove City Council is a proud partner of this national Department for Education (DfE) funded project, with Local Authority Fostering South East being the largest of 9 regions taking part in this pilot programme.

Councillor Emma Daniel, Brighton & Hove’s Cabinet member for Children, Families and Youth Services, said: “Choosing to become a foster carer is such an amazing thing to do and it’s important anyone keen to get involved is given not just the opportunity to discover whether it is right for them, but also the best possible support and guidance.

“This exciting new collaboration will do just that and ultimately help more people have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of the many young people in need of a loving, supportive and welcoming family home.

“We are always keen to meet more people interested in becoming a foster carer and this collaboration should make the entire process easier to navigate. We would love to hear from anyone who wants to take the first step on their foster care journey.”

Find out more

More information on becoming a foster carer can be found on our fostering webpages or the new regional website at LAfosteringSE.org.uk. You can also @BrightonHoveFostering and @FosteringSouth East on Facebook, Instagram and X. 

Local Authority Fostering South East

The local authorities involved in Local Authority Fostering South East are:

  • Achieving for Children (London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames and The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead)
  • Bracknell Forest Council
  • Brighton & Hove City Council
  • East Sussex County Council
  • Hampshire County Council
  • Isle of Wight Council
  • Kent County Council
  • Medway Council
  • Milton Keynes City Council
  • Oxfordshire County Council
  • Portsmouth City Council
  • Brighter Futures for Children (Reading)
  • Slough Borough Council
  • Southampton City Council
  • Surrey County Council
  • West Berkshire Council
  • West Sussex County Council
  • Wokingham Borough Council

Related news