A new Department for Education campaign is calling on more people across Greater London to consider fostering by showing people they may already have what it takes to become a foster carer.
By highlighting how everyday acts of care, from helping with homework to sharing a meal, and challenging misconceptions about who can foster, the campaign shows how these moments can help children feel safe, supported and settled, and make a lasting difference to a child’s life.
New government research reveals that many people believe they could be good foster carers. However, misconceptions about who can foster may be leading people to needlessly rule themselves out. People in Greater London believe foster carers need previous childcare experience or qualifications, with 34% holding this misconception compared with 30% nationally.
More than two thirds of people (68%) in Greater London believe they could be a good foster carer if practical barriers and personal circumstances were not a factor. However, cost or financial concerns were identified as the single biggest practical barrier to becoming a foster carer by 19% of survey respondents.
The campaign aims to reassure people that training, guidance and ongoing support can help them develop the skills and confidence they need to foster and encourages anyone considering fostering to find out more before ruling themselves out.
Busting myths about who can foster
Official figures show the number of UK foster carers fell from 63,890 in 2021 to 56,345 in March 2025 – a 12% drop. Yet the number of looked after children has risen by nearly 20% over the past decade
Misconceptions still persist around the type of person who can foster and how fostering can fit into everyday life, with 38% of people in Greater London believing fostering is incompatible with working full time and 34% believing previous childcare experience or qualifications are required.
Michael Jones, who has welcomed eight children into his home over nearly a decade of fostering, explained:
“My wife and I always knew we wanted children to be a central part of our lives, and fostering felt like the right way to provide stability, care and a safe space for a child who needed it. One of the biggest misconceptions is that you need previous childcare experience or qualifications, but what matters most is your willingness to learn and support a child.
“Some of the moments that stay with you are the simplest. I remember taking two siblings for ice cream and realising it was something they had never experienced before. Those everyday moments help children build trust, confidence and a sense of belonging, and that’s what makes fostering so rewarding.”
Lizzie Bracegirdle, who balances fostering with full-time work while helping children feel at home through everyday routines, explained:
“Before becoming a foster carer, I wasn’t sure whether fostering could fit alongside a full-time job. What I discovered is that, with the right support and flexibility, it is absolutely possible to balance fostering and work.
“There is often a misconception that you need to have all the answers before you start, but fostering is about providing stability, care and a sense of belonging. Every child is different, and some of the most important moments come through everyday routines, favourite meals, games and simply spending time together.”
The everyday moments that help children feel settled
The survey also found that people are more likely to see fostering as different from ordinary family life than similar to it. In Greater London, 41% said fostering was different from ordinary family life, compared with 34% who considered it similar.
But for children and young people in foster care, familiar routines and seemingly ordinary moments can provide important consistency and connection.
Benedict Boyd, who has supported the same young person for nearly five years while fostering as a single carer, explained:
“Before becoming a foster carer, I had questions about whether being single, gay and working full-time would prevent me from fostering. In reality, none of those things stood in the way of providing a safe, stable and supportive home for a young person.
“A lot of fostering happens in everyday moments, whether that’s sharing meals, helping with homework or creating routines that children can rely on. It’s not about being perfect or having all the answers; it’s about being there consistently and helping a young person feel safe, valued and supported.”
More homes for children who need them
Following a 12% decline in approved foster carers from 2021 to 2025, the Department for Education aims to create 10,000 new foster care places by 2029, helping to ensure more children and young people can access the safe and supportive homes they need.
As well as the campaign, this is also supported by further reforms to make fostering more accessible and help it to fit around busy modern lifestyles. This includes a new rulebook for foster carers that humanises the decision-making process, digital tools to speed up recruitment, and funding for innovative and more flexible new approaches to fostering.
Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, The Fostering Network, said:
“We’re very pleased to see the Department for Education take the lead on a national campaign for fostering to help address the shortage of foster carers across England. Thousands more foster carers are needed to ensure every child can access the right home for their individual needs, so it is vital that we raise awareness of fostering in this way and encourage people to consider whether it could be right for them.
“Foster carers make a real difference through everyday acts of care and support, helping children and young people build trust, confidence and a sense of belonging. The stability that fostering provides can change lives, which is why we have long called for a national campaign of this scale in England, building on similar work that has taken place in Wales and Scotland. This is an important step towards recruiting more foster carers who can provide the stable, loving homes children need to thrive.”
As well as the campaign, this is also supported by further reforms to make fostering more accessible and help it to fit around busy modern lifestyles. This includes a new rulebook for foster carers that humanises the decision-making process, digital tools to speed up recruitment, and funding for innovative and more flexible new approaches to fostering.
