"We didn’t start because we had all the answers. We started because we wanted to help — and we learned along the way with the right support around us.”"
What is Fostering?
Fostering is about providing a safe, stable home for a child who is unable to live with their birth family.
This can happen for many reasons. Sometimes families are going through a difficult period, and children need care for a short time. In other cases, children may need longer-term support.
Foster carers offer more than just a place to stay. They provide:
- stability
- routine
- understanding
- and a sense of belonging
For many children, fostering helps them feel safe again during a time of uncertainty.
Why Fostering Matters
When children are cared for in a supportive home environment, it can have a lasting impact on their lives. Having someone who is consistent, patient and understanding can help a child feel safe again and begin to rebuild their confidence.
Foster carers play an important role in helping children continue their education, maintain relationships and develop a sense of normality. In a large and diverse city like London, this becomes even more important. When children can remain close to their school, their friends and the places they recognise, it can make a difficult situation feel more manageable.
Types of Fostering
There are different types of fostering, depending on what a child needs at a particular time. Some carers provide short-term care while plans are made for the child’s future, while others offer longer-term homes where a child can grow and develop over time.
There are also opportunities to support children in more flexible ways, such as providing short breaks for other foster carers or being available at short notice in emergency situations.
Greater London Fostering is also actively recruiting foster carers who can care for babies. In these cases, the requirements can be slightly different. A spare bedroom is not always essential, as babies can sleep safely in a cot in the carer’s bedroom. This can make fostering more accessible for people who may not have extra space but still want to make a meaningful difference.
Download Our Guide to Fostering
if you're looking for more information about what fostering is, then we suggest you download our free pdf guide to fostering
Take our free online Fostering Course
If you know a bit about fostering, but are looking for more in depth information, especially about the practicalities then you should take our free online training course. You can take it without registering, and it's 100% free
Arrange for a call back from our team
If you know about fostering, and are now thinking about who to foster for, then the next best step for you is to have a quick call with our recruitment team. They'll be able to answer specific questions you have.
Register to foster with greater london fostering
If you are ready to apply, and have made the decision that GLF is right for you, then why not go ahead and register with us.
Fostering in Your Community
Fostering is not just about what happens inside your home. It is also about helping a child stay connected to their life outside of it.
Local foster carers make it possible for children to remain in familiar surroundings. This might mean staying at the same school, keeping in touch with friends, or continuing activities that are important to them. These small but significant connections can help a child feel more settled and supported.
Wherever you live in London, whether in a busy neighbourhood or a quieter residential area, fostering locally can play an important role in helping children maintain that sense of continuity.
Who Can Become a Foster Carer?
Foster carers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and there is no single “type” of person who fosters. What matters most is not your job title or previous experience, but your ability to provide a safe, stable and caring home.
Many people who become foster carers have developed the right skills through life experience. Being patient, understanding, reliable and open to learning are often far more important than formal qualifications.
In most situations, you will need a spare bedroom so that a child has their own space. However, as mentioned earlier, this is not always the case for baby fostering.
If you would like to explore the requirements in more detail, you can read more here:
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/foster-carer-requirements/
All our carers are champions for children
one of the qualities we look for, and help build in our foster carers, is to be champions for the children they care for.
- 20+ Years of experience
- available 24/7, We’re here for you!
- Excellent carer fees and allowances
- Ask us a questions online now
Contact us
Support and Training
Fostering is a significant responsibility, and having the right support in place makes a real difference.
At Greater London Fostering, support is built into every stage of the journey. You will have a dedicated supervising social worker who gets to know you and your household, and who will provide regular guidance and support.
There is also 24/7 support available, so you are never left managing difficult situations on your own. Alongside this, you will take part in training, including the Skills to Foster programme, which helps prepare you for the role and continues as you develop your experience.
Financial Support
While fostering is about making a difference in a child’s life, it also needs to be financially sustainable so that carers can focus on providing consistent care.
Greater London Fostering offers clear and structured financial support. Current payments are £479.50 per week for children aged 10 and under, and £507.50 per week for children aged 11 and over. These payments are designed to cover the cost of caring for a child, alongside a professional reward for the role you are undertaking.
If you would like more detailed information, you can read more here:
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/foster-care-money/
“I talked to loads of fostering agencies, none quite felt right, until i spoke to James at GLF”
How to Become a Foster Carer
Becoming a foster carer is a thorough process, designed to ensure that you feel prepared and supported before welcoming a child into your home.
The process usually takes up to 6 months and begins with an initial conversation, followed by a home visit and training. You will then complete a full assessment, which helps build a clear picture of your experience, your household and your readiness to foster. The final stage is approval through an independent fostering panel.
Throughout this process, you are supported at every step, with the opportunity to ask questions and understand what fostering will involve in practice.
If you would like to explore this further, you can find more information here:
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/becoming-a-foster-carer/
Take the First Step
If you are thinking about fostering, it is completely natural to feel unsure or to have questions. Many people begin by simply exploring the idea and having an informal conversation.
You do not need to make any immediate decisions. Taking the first step is simply about finding out more and understanding whether fostering could be right for you.
If you would like to talk things through, you can get in touch here:
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/contact-us/
Or request a call back at a time that suits you:
👉 https://greaterlondonfostering.org/lp/arrange-a-call-back/
There is no pressure — just an opportunity to explore what fostering could look like for you.
“My carers have given me the stability I needed in order to complete school, and the support I needed to believe in myself !”
Diane J
Happy foster carers makes for happy children
“I don’t call my foster carers carers, I call them my parents, because that’s what they became. even though I’m now in my twenties, I still go back to them every Sunday for my roast dinner. ”
Carl C
“I have never been pushed so hard to achieve things. At first I really didn’t like it, then I started to realise this was exactly what I needed, people kept asking me what my SPARK was, and honestly, without my foster parents, and D, their social worker, I probably wouldn’t have found it”
Leonie V
Change a life, foster!
We can honestly say, becoming a foster parent will change your life, and that of a young persons. All they need to succeed is your guidance, support and love.
?
It couldn’t be easier – give us a call on 020 8347 8741, or start an online chat. If it’s late and we’re not online, you can always send us a message via WhatsApp and we’ll reply first thing tomorrow.
We put carers and children at the heart of everything we do. We always choose the right thing to do, even when it’s difficult.
We pay some of the highest fostering allowances in London. Our rates are:
- • £479.50 per week for a child aged 0‑10
• £507.50 per week for a child aged 11 and over
• ££550–£1,600 per week for enhanced or more complex placements, depending on the needs of the child depending on the needs of the child.
These allowances are per week and per child. Unlike some other IFAs, we don’t deduct money for sibling groups. For example, if you care for an 11‑year‑old and their 14‑year‑old brother, you’ll receive £970 a week in total.
Other agencies pay their carers different amounts, so be sure to ask about allowances when you research fostering organisations.
We’re family‑run, so we decide where to put the money. We believe carers do the real hard work, so they should be paid fairly.
We don’t scrimp on support, but we don’t waste money on things that don’t add value to you and the children you care for. That’s how we can pay more.
Download Our Guide To Fostering
We've create a free PDF guide to fostering, to help you understand a bit more about foster care, and the process of applying.
Book A Call Back From Our Team
The easiest thing to do is have a quick phone call so we can answer any questions you have. Don't worry, it's informal and there's no commitment
Greater London Fostering (GLF) is a leading independent fostering agency based in London, with over 20 years of experience recruiting, training and supporting high-calibre foster carers. Our aim is to provide nurturing homes for children in need.
At GLF, we offer a comprehensive training programme covering a range of topics related to fostering, including child development, safeguarding, behaviour management, and therapeutic parenting. We provide ongoing 24/7 advice and support, along with a generous weekly allowance to assist with child care. In addition, we hold regular engaging family events.
To become a GLF foster carer, the journey starts with an informal chat followed by a home visit and a detailed two-day course. The final stage is a four-month assessment where we explore your background and motivations for fostering.
We pride ourselves on our personalised approach and our commitment to supporting our carers, along with a competitive financial package and continuous training. Our goal is to make our carers feel like part of our family.
Children who require foster care come from diverse backgrounds and have unique needs. They can be any age, and many have faced difficult experiences and require a safe, stable, and nurturing home environment. At GLF, we strive to match our foster carers with children aligned with their preferences and circumstances.
Fostering can present challenges, but it also provides a sense of fulfilment, promotes empathy, and broadens your family’s understanding of the world. At GLF, we’re here to advise and support foster families through this experience.