Who can foster

To foster, you’ll need to offer a safe and welcoming space — and for most types of fostering, that includes a spare bedroom. This gives children and young people a sense of privacy, safety, and belonging.

There are exceptions:

• Babies can usually share your bedroom until around 36 months old.
• Related children under a certain age may be able to share a room.
• Short Breaks carers only need to provide a room when the child is staying overnight.

If you're unsure whether your home setup is suitable, don’t worry — we’ll talk it through with you. Many people are surprised to learn they already have what it takes to foster. What matters most is your ability to provide care, stability, and emotional support.

Whether you rent or own, what matters most is the home you create — one that’s safe, stable, and nurturing.

If you’re renting, you can absolutely foster with us. All we ask is that you have:

• A stable tenancy agreement
• Your landlord’s written permission

Many brilliant foster carers live in rented homes. What’s important is your ability to provide consistency, care, and emotional support — not your property status.

If you’re unsure how to approach your landlord or housing provider, we can help guide you through that conversation. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

You don’t need to be a parent to become a foster carer. What matters most is your ability to offer stability, empathy, and a safe space for a child or young person to grow.

Some experience with children — whether through work, volunteering, or family life — can be helpful, but it’s not essential. We’ll provide all the training and support you need to feel confident in your role.

If you do have children at home, we’ll work closely with you to make sure they feel included, prepared, and supported. Fostering is a family journey, and we offer dedicated resources and support for birth children of foster carers to help them thrive too.

Every foster carer brings something unique and your life experience, whether or not it includes parenting, could be exactly what a child needs.

Many of our foster carers have pets, and for some children, animals can be a source of comfort, connection, and healing. A calm, friendly pet can help a child feel more at home, reduce anxiety, and even build trust.

As part of the fostering assessment, we’ll carry out a pet assessment to make sure your animal is a good fit for fostering. This is simply to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the home — including your pet.

If your pet has shown aggression or caused harm to people, unfortunately, that may affect your ability to foster. But in most cases, pets are a positive part of the fostering experience.

We’ll talk with you about your pet’s temperament, routines, and how they interact with others. If your pet is part of your family, they can also be part of the support system that helps a child feel safe, loved, and accepted.

You don’t need to own a car or have a driving licence to become a foster carer. What matters most is your ability to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for a child or young person.

If you don’t drive, you’ll need reliable access to public transport or a strong local support network to help with things like:

• School runs
• Health appointments
• Family time (contact visits)
  Activities and outings

We’ll talk with you about how you plan to manage travel during your assessment, and we’ll work with you to make sure it’s realistic and sustainable. Many brilliant foster carers don’t drive, what they do have is commitment, compassion, and the ability to adapt.

If you’re unsure whether your transport options are suitable, we’re happy to explore it with you. Fostering is about people, not vehicles and your ability to care is what truly counts.

To foster with us, you need to be over 21 and bring a sense of maturity, empathy, and life experience, not a specific age or background.

There’s no upper age limit. In fact, our current foster carers range from 24 to 86 years old. What unites them isn’t their age, it’s their commitment to making a difference in a child’s life.

You do need to be physically and emotionally well enough to meet a child’s needs, but that doesn’t mean perfect health. Many carers manage health conditions or take regular medication, what matters is your ability to provide a stable, loving home.

If you’ve lived, learned, and are ready to open your heart and home, fostering could be the next meaningful chapter in your life.

Many children in foster care are from Surrey and nearby areas, and we always aim to keep them close to their schools, friends, and support networks whenever it’s safe to do so.

However, there are times when children need to be placed outside their home area for safeguarding reasons. In these cases, we may welcome children from other parts of the UK who need a safe and supportive home away from their local environment.

We also care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who arrive in the UK without a parent or guardian. These young people often show incredible strength and resilience, and they need foster carers who can offer stability, understanding, and a fresh start.

We do our best to match children with foster carers who can meet their cultural, religious, and language needs but what matters most is your openness, empathy, and willingness to learn. Every child deserves to feel safe and accepted, and every foster carer plays a vital role in making that happen.

You don’t need to have all the answers, just the heart to care and the commitment to grow. We’ll be with you every step of the way.

You can work full-time and be a Supported Lodgings or Short Breaks carer.

It's possible to foster a school-aged child while working, but you'll need friends or family to help with care outside school hours and during holidays.

For pre-school-aged children or Parent and Child fostering, one carer must be home full-time.

All foster carers need work flexibility for daytime meetings with social workers and other professionals. If you wish to talk to your workplace about becoming a foster carer, please contact us for more information. We can provide more information on becoming a Fostering Friendly Employer in Surrey and the many benefits it can bring to a business.

If you claim Universal Credit, check how fostering may affect it.

All foster carers must register as self-employed with HMRC, and we will assist you with this process.

You can foster even if you're unemployed.

Fostering usually doesn't prevent you from claiming benefits.

Foster carers receive a weekly allowance to cover the living costs of children in their care, but only when a child is living with you.

If you're a single carer with little or no other income, check if you can claim Universal Credit.

As a foster carer, you need to register as self-employed with HMRC.

Foster carers benefit from tax breaks, often resulting in no tax on fostering income.

Your postcode doesn’t limit your potential to change a child’s life.

If you live near the borders of Surrey, you may still be eligible to foster with us  and we’d love to hear from you. We welcome carers from nearby areas who can provide a stable, nurturing home and are able to travel for training, support, and meetings.

If you're further afield or planning to move, there are still plenty of opportunities to foster. Visit Local Authority Fostering South East to explore fostering options with other councils across the South East.

No matter where you live, your ability to care, connect, and empower a child is what truly matters.

Whether you're single, married, divorced, widowed, cohabiting, or in a civil partnership, what matters most is your capacity to offer a safe, stable, and loving home to a child who needs it.

Foster carers come from all walks of life. You don’t need to have a partner to make a difference, you just need patience, empathy, and a commitment to helping a young person thrive.

Your relationship status is part of your story but it’s your values, your resilience, and your willingness to care that truly count.

What matters most is your ability to provide a safe, loving, and supportive home, not where you were born or your first language.

You do not need to be a native English speaker to become a foster carer. As long as you can speak English well enough to communicate clearly with the child in your care, professionals involved, and support networks, you can absolutely apply.

ESOL courses at Surrey Adult Learning are free for adults aged 19 or over on the 31 August 2024 who meet the following eligibility criteria.

In fact, we actively welcome bilingual and multilingual carers. Your language skills and cultural background can be a powerful asset, especially for children who share your heritage or who would benefit from a more diverse and inclusive environment.

Your voice, your story, and your care can make a lasting difference.

Your immigration status doesn’t define your ability to care, your compassion, stability, and commitment do.

If you have indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or permanent residency in the UK, you are eligible to apply to foster. What matters most is your ability to provide a safe, nurturing, and supportive home for a child who needs one.

We actively welcome carers from all backgrounds, cultures, and communities. Your lived experience, your language, and your heritage can be a powerful source of connection and comfort for children in care, especially those who may share similar roots.

Fostering is about who you are today and the difference you’re ready to make.

Your identity is your strength and we celebrate it.

We fully support LGBTQ+ individuals and do not discriminate based on gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, or anywhere on the spectrum — you are welcome here.

What matters most is your ability to provide a safe, loving, and supportive home for a child who needs one. Many LGBTQ+ carers bring unique empathy, resilience, and understanding that can make a profound difference in a young person’s life.

We are always happy to welcome new LGBTQ+ carers into our fostering community because every child deserves to grow up in a home where they feel seen, accepted, and loved.

If you're considering becoming a foster carer, your journey starts with a conversation. One of our friendly social workers will arrange a call or home visit to talk through everything you need to know. This is your chance to ask questions, explore what fostering involves, and decide if it’s the right path for you — with no pressure.

All foster carers must complete a medical assessment. This is carried out by a doctor and reviewed by our medical advisor, who will help you determine if you’re the right fit to foster. If you take medication or have a health condition that doesn’t affect your daily life, it’s unlikely to prevent you from fostering.

We actively encourage applications from people with disabilities. Your lived experience can make a powerful difference to a child facing similar challenges. What matters most is your ability to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home.

Yes  but there are important health guidelines in place to protect children in your care.

If anyone in your household smokes or vapes, you won’t be able to foster children under the age of five. This is because younger children are more vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke and vapour.

However, you can still foster older children, as long as smoking or vaping is done strictly outside the home and away from children. During your assessment, we’ll talk with you about your household’s habits and how you manage them.

We know that people who smoke or vape can still be incredible foster carers. What matters is your commitment to creating a safe, healthy environment and we’re here to support you in that.

If you’re thinking about cutting down or quitting, Surrey County Council offers free, local stop smoking support through its public health services.

Every step you take is a step toward making a difference in a child’s life and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Having a criminal conviction won’t automatically prevent you from fostering. We understand that people grow, change, and learn from their past — and many foster carers bring valuable life experience that helps them connect with and support children in care.

However, there are some exceptions. You cannot foster if you have convictions for:

• Offences against children
• Serious violent crimes
• Certain sexual offences

As part of the assessment process, we carry out an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If you do have a criminal record, we’ll talk with you openly and sensitively about your circumstances. What matters is your honesty, your current situation, and your ability to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home.

We believe in second chances — and if you’re ready to make a difference in a child’s life, we’re here to help you explore whether fostering could be part of your future.

You can still make a positive impact. Consider volunteering with Clink Charity, which supports people with convictions to rebuild their lives through training and rehabilitation.

If you have children at home, we’ll work closely with you to make sure they feel included, prepared, and supported every step of the way. Fostering can be a rewarding experience for the whole family, and we want your children to feel confident and valued in their role.

We offer dedicated support for birth children of foster carers, including:

• Skills for Kids: A fun, interactive programme designed to help children understand fostering, build resilience, and develop positive relationships with the children who join your family. It’s a great way for them to feel involved and empowered.
• Children Who Foster Support Groups: Regular meet-ups where children of foster carers can connect with others who share similar experiences. These groups offer a safe space to talk, share, and have fun — with activities, games, and creative sessions led by experienced staff.

We recognise the vital role your children play in creating a welcoming home. That’s why we invest in their wellbeing, confidence, and sense of belonging — because when your whole family feels supported, fostering thrives.

Absolutely. We welcome foster carers of all faiths and none.

Whether you follow a religion, are spiritual, or don’t identify with any belief system, what matters most is your ability to offer a child a safe, respectful, and nurturing home.

We value the richness that different cultures, traditions, and worldviews bring to fostering. Your beliefs can be a source of strength, stability, and compassion, as long as you're also able to respect and support a child’s own background, identity, and beliefs, even if they differ from your own.

Fostering is about acceptance, empathy, and creating a space where every child feels seen, heard, and valued — no matter who they are or what they believe.

Yes and your journey could be one of your greatest strengths.

Many people who’ve experienced trauma or faced mental health challenges develop deep empathy, resilience, and insight, qualities that can make a powerful difference in a child’s life. Your lived experience may help you connect with children who have also faced adversity, offering them understanding, patience, and hope.

We understand that mental health is part of being human. During the assessment process, we’ll explore your journey with care and sensitivity, focusing on your current wellbeing, the support you have in place, and your ability to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home.

Having faced challenges doesn’t disqualify you, it may be exactly what makes you the kind of carer a child needs.