“We didn’t just need training — we needed support, reassurance, and someone to talk to when things felt uncertain. That’s what made the difference for us.”
Who We Are:
We’ve been working with foster carers since 1998, and over that time we’ve built something we’re proud of — not just a service, but a community.
Fostering is not something you do alone. It’s something you do with the right support around you, from people who understand both the challenges and the rewards. That’s what we aim to provide every day.
Our Mission
We want children who cannot live with their birth families to feel safe, supported, and able to stay connected to their lives — their schools, their friendships, and their communities.
And we want foster carers to feel confident, supported, and valued in the role they take on.
Because when carers feel supported, children feel it too.
How We Support Foster Carers
One of the most important questions when choosing an agency is:
“Who will support me when things feel difficult?”
At Greater London Fostering, support is not just something we talk about — it’s something we prioritise.
You will have:
- A dedicated supervising social worker
- Regular visits and ongoing guidance
- Access to experienced professionals when you need advice
- 24/7 support, including out-of-hours help
This means you are never left managing alone. Whether it’s a small question or a challenging moment, there is always someone available to talk things through with you.
We also provide ongoing training through the Skills to Foster programme, alongside continued learning opportunities as you develop in your role.
If you’d like to understand more about the role itself, you can read about
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/becoming-a-foster-carer/
What Makes Us Different
Every fostering agency will talk about support — but what matters is how that support feels in practice.
We work hard to keep our approach personal.
We are not a large, distant organisation. We know our carers, we understand their households, and we take time to build strong, trusting relationships.
Many of our carers describe Greater London Fostering as feeling like an extended family. That doesn’t mean fostering is always easy — it isn’t — but it does mean you have people around you who genuinely understand and will stand alongside you.
Financial Support
Fostering is about making a difference in a child’s life — but it also needs to be financially sustainable.
We provide clear and consistent financial support so carers can focus on the child in their care.
Our current payments are:
- £479.50 per week for children aged 10 and under
- £507.50 per week for children aged 11 and over
These payments include:
- The cost of caring for a child
- A professional reward for your role
You can read more here:
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/foster-care-money/
Our Community
We support foster carers across London, working with a wide range of local authorities and communities.
One of the most important parts of fostering is helping children stay connected to their lives — their school, their friends, and familiar places.
That’s why local foster carers are so important.
By fostering in your local area, you help a child:
- stay in their school where possible
- maintain important relationships
- feel a sense of continuity during a difficult time
Who Can Become a Foster Carer?
Foster carers come from all walks of life.
You don’t need to be perfect or have formal childcare qualifications. What matters most is:
- patience
- stability
- understanding
- a genuine commitment to supporting a child
In most cases, you will need a spare bedroom.
However, Greater London Fostering is also actively recruiting baby-only foster carers. In these situations:
- a spare bedroom may not always be required
- babies can sleep in a cot in your bedroom
If you’re unsure whether fostering is right for you, you can read more about expectations here:
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/foster-carer-requirements/
How to Become a Foster Carer
The process of becoming a foster carer is thorough, but it is designed to support you every step of the way.
It typically takes up to 6 months and includes:
- An initial conversation with our recruitment team
- A home visit
- Skills to Foster training
- A full assessment
- Approval through an independent fostering panel
We take time to get to know you properly, so that you feel confident and prepared before welcoming a child into your home.
Thinking About Fostering?
If you’re considering fostering, it’s completely normal to have questions.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before getting in touch. Many people start with a simple conversation to understand what fostering involves and whether it could work for them.
If you’d like to take the next step, you can:
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/contact-us/
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/lp/arrange-a-call-back/
There’s no pressure — just an opportunity to find out more.