What is fostering?

Foster carers provide safe and loving homes for children who can't live with their own families.

This can be for a few weeks, months, or until the child becomes an adult. These children may have faced difficult experiences or their families might not be able to care for them safely.

Page Contents

Who decides when children need foster care?
Who are we looking for?
Where are Surrey's foster children?
Why is Fostering important?
Want to learn more?

Who decides when children need foster care?

Local authorities and the courts decide when a child can't stay with their family.

Surrey County Council Fostering Service supports these children and their foster carers. We are solely responsible for finding suitable foster families to ensure children are well cared for and have the best possible future.

Who are we looking for?

In Surrey, most children who need foster care are aged 11 or older. We’re actively looking for foster carers who can support teenagers and provide the stability they need during a key stage of their lives.

We also urgently need foster families who can care for siblings. Keeping brothers and sisters together has a powerful impact on their emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging. To foster siblings, you’ll ideally need more than one spare bedroom, as well as the time and commitment to support their relationship and individual needs.

We welcome people from all walks of life, whether you rent, live alone, or don’t yet have a spare room. If fostering is something you're considering, get in touch and we’ll work with you to explore how it could become a reality.

Where are Surrey's foster children?

Foster carers are needed in every part of Surrey, from Woking and Guildford to Redhill, Epsom, and beyond. Children in care come from all over the county, and we aim to keep them close to the places they know and love.

When children stay in their local area, they can remain at the same school, keep in touch with friends, and stay connected to their community. This sense of continuity helps them feel safe, supported, and rooted during a time of great change.

Surrey is doing well in helping children stay close to home, with over half (51%) of children in care were placed within 20 miles of where they lived in 2023 (Corporate Parenting Data and Performance Information (PDF). This is significantly higher than the national average for children placed through independent fostering agencies (IFAs), where placements are often much farther from a child’s community.

With more local foster carers, we can build on this success and help even more children stay connected to their schools, friends, and familiar surroundings, which is vital for their emotional wellbeing and long-term stability.

Why is Fostering important?

Fostering plays a vital role in the UK’s care system. As of March 2023, there were around 43,400 fostering households in England, caring for thousands of vulnerable children. However, the number of new foster carers is declining and applications dropped by 18% compared to 2018–2019. This shortage means many children may not receive the tailored support they need.

Children entering care are often from disadvantaged backgrounds. According to the Office for National Statistics, 81% of children who entered care were living in households deprived in at least one dimension (such as employment, education, health, or housing). Fostering offers these children a chance to break the cycle of deprivation and build a brighter future.