Fostering means caring for a child when they can't live with their own family. This can be for a short time, like a day or two, or for many years.
Fostering makes a big difference in a child's life. If you're interested in fostering, you can help provide the care and support they need.
Who needs fostering?
- Babies to 18-year-olds: children of all ages need fostering.
- Children who can't live at home: there are lots of reasons children are not able to live with their families. Whatever the reason, our children need foster carers who want to help them during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Different outcomes for fostered children
- Returning to families: many children go back to their families.
- Staying in foster care until independence: for some of our children, they need to live with their foster family until they are 18, or reach independence.
- Adoption: some of our children are supported by their foster family to move to their adoptive home.
- Staying in touch: most children keep in touch with their families, meeting at places like children's centres.
Why choose us for fostering?
There are many reasons why we are the best choice for fostering. Here are the advantages of fostering with us:
You will be contacted first
- Our Manchester carers are always asked to welcome children to their care first, before we look outside of our carers for homes for children.
Non-profit
- We don't make money from our children. All our funds go to help children in Manchester.
Local children
- Our foster carers only look after Manchester children. This helps children stay close to home and school.
Work and foster
- Flexible: you can work and foster at the same time. We don't make you give up your job.
Local support
- Nearby help: we have all the staff and resources you need right here in Manchester. Our children’s social workers and fostering supervising social workers are all in Manchester.
High standards
- Best care: we set high standards for our carers and staff. Your social worker and the children's social worker work together to help the children.
All ages
- Wide age range: we care for children of all ages, from babies to teenagers.
Extra financial help
- More support: we pay for extra costs like mileage, equipment, clothing, and special payments for celebrations and birthdays. Our foster carers are never out of pocket.