The UK government has today unveiled a £12.4 million Fostering Innovation Fund, designed to dismantle outdated barriers and bring foster care into the 21st century. Launched during Foster
Care Fortnight, this investment is a cornerstone of the government’s ambitious pledge to create 10,000 new foster places across England.
Challenging the status quo
For decades, the fostering model has largely relied on traditional household structures—often assuming a married couple with one stay-at-home carer. These reforms aim to reflect the reality of modern British life, making fostering an accessible option for:
Younger professionals and diverse household types.
Individuals seeking flexible arrangements, such as "Weekender" or respite care.
Those in varied employment structures who previously felt excluded from the system.
How the funding works
The £12.4 million will be distributed to Regional Care Co-operatives and Local Authority Fostering Hubs. These groups will partner with charities and commercial providers to trial creative solutions, including:
Home Reconfiguration: Expanding on successes like Manchester’s "Room Makers" scheme, which provides grants to help carers adapt their homes to take in siblings.
Flexible Models: Developing part-time or weekend-only fostering to support children in residential care or those staying with extended family.
Collaborative Networks: Encouraging local authorities and independent agencies to pool resources and expertise.
Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister said: “Every child deserves the chance to grow up in a safe and loving home, and I’ve been truly inspired by the foster carers I have met who make that happen.
This investment will help us bring fostering into the 21st century, moving on from outdated assumptions about who can foster and how care should be offered and opening it up to a wider range of people.
This will help us recruit more carers, and change more children’s lives by giving them a stable home”.
Industry support
The sector has welcomed the move as a long-overdue acknowledgement of the need for flexibility:
Sara Fernandez (CEO, NOW Foster): Noted that "Weekender" programs build vital "villages" of trusted adults around a child, offering consistency for the youth and relief for full-time carers.
Andy Elvin (CEO, TACT): Praised the pace of the reforms, stating that government commitment is finally matching the dedication shown by carers on the ground.
Dame Carol Homden (CEO, Coram): Highlighted that the fund will bridge the gap between local authorities and independent agencies, fostering essential collaboration.
The road ahead
This fund is a key component of the Fostering Action Plan announced in February. By making the application process more inclusive and the care models more adaptable, the government aims to keep more children in family-based settings and reduce the reliance on unnecessary residential care.
Applications for the fund are now open, with successful projects expected to be announced later this summer.
