Be there to care scheme
We offer financial support for foster parents to
help more individuals and families take the step
into fostering with confidence.
Giving up work
A large proportion of our carers foster as a career.
Security of regular paycheck
Receive a weekly payment for up to 10 weeks.
On hand to offer care
Our Be There To Care scheme is designed to ensure you can be available to accept a matched foster placement.
Juggle meeting & training
We will equip you with the necessary guidance, support, and training to make your fostering experience a resounding success.
Understanding Foster Care Financial Support with the "Be There to Care" Scheme
The decision to become a foster parent is a meaningful one, but it’s completely natural to have questions about financial stability, especially when fostering often involves providing care full-time. We hear this from many people who are ready to foster but feel unsure about taking that first step.
To help with this, we’ve introduced an innovative foster care financial support scheme called “Be There To Care.” This foster care scheme provides financial support for foster parents before they are matched with a child, easing some of the initial pressures and making it possible for more people to focus on preparing their home and family for fostering, without the added worry.
What is the “Be There to Care Scheme”?
The “Be There To Care” scheme is a foster care financial support scheme designed to make the transition into fostering more manageable. Through this foster care scheme, new foster parents can receive a weekly payment for up to 10 weeks. This financial support for foster parents helps to cover everyday living costs during the early stages, giving you the time and stability to focus on preparing your home and being fully available to welcome a matched foster placement when the time is right.
Alongside this scheme, foster parents also receive foster care pay once a child is placed with them. Foster care pay is made up of a weekly allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child, as well as a fee that recognises the time, care, and commitment you provide. The exact amount varies depending on a child’s needs and circumstances, but the aim is always to ensure that foster parents are financially supported to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home. The “Be There To Care” scheme simply helps bridge the gap before that first placement, so you can begin your fostering journey with confidence.
Who is Eligible for Foster Care Financial Support?
The “Be There To Care” foster care financial support scheme is particularly helpful for those who would love to foster but feel uncertain about leaving a stable income. Many prospective foster parents worry about the financial transition between being approved and receiving their first placement, and that hesitation can delay or even prevent them from beginning their fostering journey. This scheme is designed to offer reassurance during that stage, giving potential foster parents the confidence to move forward, prepare their home, and work closely with their link worker without the pressure of managing lost earnings. It opens the door for more people to say yes to fostering, knowing that they will be supported from the very start.
How to Apply for Foster Care Financial Support
Applying for foster care financial support through the “Be There To Care” scheme begins by getting in touch with our team to express your interest in fostering. You’ll then have a friendly conversation with a link worker who will talk you through what fostering involves and help you understand the support available. As you move through the fostering application process, your link worker will continue to guide you and be your point of contact. Once approved as a foster parent and preparing for your first placement, eligibility for the scheme is confirmed, and the weekly payments can begin. It’s designed to be straightforward and reassuring, giving you financial security while you get ready to welcome a child into your home.
Benefits of the Foster Care Scheme
- Financial Stability: By providing a weekly payment for up to 10 weeks, this foster care scheme helps remove one of the biggest barriers for new foster parents, the worry of stepping away from regular employment to commit to fostering. This financial support for foster parents helps you maintain stability while you prepare to welcome a child into your home.
- Comprehensive Support and Training: The “Be There To Care” scheme works alongside the wider support we offer here at Family Fostering Partners. From your first enquiry through to being matched with a child, whether that’s for short-term or long-term care, your link worker will be by your side. You’ll have access to ongoing training, guidance, and reassurance, helping you feel confident, supported, and equipped for every stage of your fostering journey.
- Accessibility and Inclusion: We created this foster care scheme to make fostering more accessible to more people. By easing financial pressures at the start, we hope to encourage individuals and families from a wide range of backgrounds to consider fostering. It’s designed to make the first steps feel less daunting and to show that fostering is achievable, even if you’ve previously thought it might not be financially possible.
Why Choose Family Fostering Partners?
Choosing to foster is a major life decision, and the support you receive from your fostering agency matters. At Family Fostering Partners, we introduced the “Be There To Care” foster care financial support scheme because we genuinely want to remove barriers and make fostering possible for more people. But the support doesn’t stop there. From the very beginning, you will have a dedicated link worker who gets to know you, your home, and your hopes for fostering. We offer ongoing training that is practical, grounded in real-life experience, and tailored to the different types of fostering you may provide. Our foster parents aren’t left to “figure it out” alone, we are with you through every stage, offering guidance, reassurance, and a compassionate ear when you need it. We are proud of the strong relationships we build, and the sense of community that develops between our foster families. When you foster with Family Fostering Partners, you are never on your own, you’re part of a supportive network that values you, respects you, and stands beside you as you change a child’s life.
Financial Support for Foster Parents - FAQs
What financial help do foster parents get?
Foster parents receive foster care pay, which includes a weekly allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child, along with a fee that recognises the time and commitment involved in fostering. In addition to this, at Family Fostering Partners, our “Be There To Care” foster care financial support scheme provides weekly payments for up to 10 weeks before your first placement, helping you to stay financially secure while you prepare to welcome a child into your home.
How does fostering work financially?
Once a child is placed with you, you receive foster care pay each week. This includes an allowance to cover a child’s day-to-day costs, and a fee that recognises the time and care you provide. With Family Fostering Partners, there is also the “Be There To Care” foster care financial support scheme, which offers weekly payments for up to 10 weeks before your first placement. This helps you prepare to foster without worrying about your income during the transition.
What support is available to foster carers?
Foster carers receive ongoing support from a dedicated link worker, as well as access to training, guidance, and a 24/7 support line for reassurance whenever it’s needed. At Family Fostering Partners, there is also a strong community of fellow foster parents, regular support groups, and membership to FosterTalk for specialist advice and benefits. Alongside this, our “Be There To Care” offers financial stability while you prepare for your first placement.
Without the input of Family Fostering Partners, their support and their kindness in my life, I do not know where I would be today. I would not be the person I am today without them.
Davin, Care Experienced Individual
