A local starting point
The places mentioned above are examples to explore together, not GLF services or recommendations for every child. Check the provider’s current access information before visiting.
A home in your community
Fostering in
Ladywell.
A home in Ladywell. Personal support for you, your family and the child in your care.
Thinking about fostering? We’re an independent, family-run agency supporting carers in Ladywell and across London. Let’s talk about what it could look like for you.
Family-owned and run. Since 1998.
The ordinary things.
They can mean everything.
Fostering in Ladywell
Finding confidence, one ordinary day at a time.
Ladywell Fields and the Alex Yee Ladywell Arena provide local settings for outdoor activity. You can explore what is available with a child who enjoys sport, while checking the arrangements for any organised sessions.
There is no requirement to be a sporty family to foster in Ladywell. We want to understand what you can offer: time, patience and a willingness to learn about a child’s world. If trying something new feels difficult, your SSW can help you work out a smaller, more comfortable first step.
Local information: Sports facilities in Lewisham.
We’ll get to know your household as well as the home you can offer. Your supervising social worker stays alongside you, with weekly calls, monthly visits and direct phone support when you need it.
A child comes first. Staying close to familiar people and places can help when it is right for them; it is not a promise that a child will come from your neighbourhood.
You’re part of our team
Fostering is personal.
Our support is too.
Your supervising social worker gets to know you, your family and the child in your care. Someone to share the good days with—and someone to call on the difficult ones.
- Weekly calls
- Regular contact with your own social worker, as a minimum.
- Monthly visits
- Face-to-face time together, as a minimum.
- Your SSW, 24/7
- Direct phone support. No anonymous out-of-hours service.
We stay close.
And we stand beside you.
- Support when it matters most
- We fully support carers during an allegation and advocate fiercely for you.
- Help to understand what’s underneath
- Our therapeutic lead can work with you to understand and respond to a child’s needs.
- Other carers to learn alongside
- Monthly support groups and weekly training, both online via Zoom, keep you connected. See how online learning works.
- The moments worth celebrating
- We celebrate achievements and mark the moments that matter to you, your family and the child in your care.
Training that understands family life
A busy life.
One less journey.
School runs, work, appointments and everything that goes into a family day. Finding time to learn matters—but it helps when you don’t have to add a journey across London.
Our Skills to Foster preparation training, weekly training and monthly support groups all take place online via Zoom. You can join from home, without travelling to an office or finding somewhere to park.
It’s still time together: asking questions, sharing ideas and learning alongside other carers. Being online can make attending easier to fit around a busy life; it doesn’t mean having to work things out on your own.
Online training, personal support. Your social worker still visits you face to face at least monthly, calls at least weekly and is there by phone 24/7.
Around Ladywell
Everyday connections.
The right help around them.
Local places are one part of a child’s life. Education and specialist support may involve people beyond the neighbourhood. These links are a starting point for conversations with the team around the child.
Ideas for everyday family life
Lewisham’s Family Hubs pages connect families to information on child development, parenting and emotional wellbeing. Use the material that suits the child’s age and needs; there is no requirement to turn family life into a programme. Ask your SSW if you are unsure how general advice fits their experiences.
Support for each stage of growing up
Lewisham’s SEND Local Offer covers education, health, activities, short breaks and preparing for adulthood. It can help you identify appropriate questions and services as a child grows. Check individual access requirements and remember that progress should be understood in the context of the child, not a comparison with others.
Local information checked in September 2026. These public and community resources are separate from GLF. Opening arrangements, costs, suitability and service eligibility should be checked with the provider and, where relevant, the child’s social worker.
The practical side
Let’s be clear
about the money.
It’s a sensible question to ask. These are GLF’s weekly payments per child while they are in your care.
Enhancements may be paid where a child’s individual needs warrant them. We’ll explain what applies to your circumstances when we speak.
Weekly payments from GLF
- Child aged 10 and under
- £479.50per week
- Child aged 11 and over
- £507.50per week
Clear figures. A conversation about your family.
One step at a time
You don’t need
every answer today.
You may have been thinking about fostering for years. Or something in your life may only recently have made it feel possible.
We’ll start by listening. Then, if you want to go further, we’ll help you understand each stage.
A first conversation
Talk through your questions and what fostering might mean for your household. No commitment to apply.
Getting to know you
An initial visit gives us time to explore your home life and the support you might need.
Skills to Foster, online
Live preparation training on Zoom helps you understand the role and the experiences children bring with them. No journey to a training venue.
Your assessment
A social worker works with you through the application, conversations and checks.
Panel and approval
Your assessment goes to panel for a recommendation, followed by the agency’s approval decision.
A few things you may be wondering
Your questions
belong here.
There’s no perfect starting point and no question too small.
Do I need to organise lots of activities for a child?+
No. Start with their interests and energy, rather than a full diary. Some children enjoy a group; others need quieter time or help building confidence first. Check activity costs, access and consent arrangements with the team around the child.
Can I apply to GLF if I live in Ladywell?+
Yes. You can enquire directly with us. GLF is an independent, family-owned and run fostering agency, not the council’s fostering service. We’ll explain our assessment, support and payments so you can decide whether we feel right for you.
Where would I go for training and support groups?+
Skills to Foster, weekly training and monthly support groups are all online via Zoom, so there’s no travel to a venue. You’ll need time to participate and a private space to join. This is separate from your SSW’s face-to-face visits, which happen at least monthly. Read about learning with GLF.
Can I foster if I rent my home?+
Yes, renting does not rule you out. You’ll need a suitable, stable home with a spare bedroom for a child. We can talk through your housing situation with you.
Do I need professional childcare experience?+
No. We’ll explore the experience and strengths you already have, and what you may need to learn. Preparation training and ongoing support are part of fostering with GLF.
Will I only care for children from this borough?+
Not necessarily. GLF works across London. We consider the individual child’s needs and your household when discussing who you could care for; a local address alone does not decide that. School journeys, important relationships and time with family all need to be considered as part of that conversation.
How long does becoming a foster carer take?+
It usually takes several months. The training, checks and assessment take time, and the pace will depend on your circumstances. We’ll explain the likely next steps when we speak.
I already foster. Can I move to GLF?+
Yes, we welcome conversations with experienced carers who are considering a change. We’ll talk through your situation and what a transfer would involve. Read about transferring to GLF.
Take the first step
Arrange a 15-minute call.
Leave your name and number and our fostering team will call you back. It is simply a chance to ask questions and see what feels right.
Not ready to talk?
That is completely fine.
Keep exploring in whichever way feels most comfortable.