Transform Lives: Become a Foster Parent with AFA Fostering Today.
Join AFA Fostering in creating brighter futures. Become a fostering hero and change lives with love, support, and dedication.
People from many different backgrounds become amazing foster carers and we’ll guide you through every step.
We’re currently looking for people in and around Norfolk, Suffolk, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire to become Foster Parents.
The Life-Changing Impact of Fostering
Fostering gives you the chance to make a lasting difference in a child's life while enriching your own. The experience brings a deep sense of purpose, personal growth and fulfilment as you help a child feel safe, valued and supported. Many Foster Parents find that caring for others strengthens family bonds, builds resilience and creates lifelong connections. Every small step forward, every smile and every breakthrough can be incredibly rewarding, giving you a sense of pride and emotional wellbeing that lasts a lifetime.
The Benefits of Fostering with Us
Fostering is one of the most rewarding journeys you can take, and at AFA Fostering we make sure you are supported at every step. We provide generous allowances, comprehensive training, 24/7 guidance, and a caring community to help you thrive as a Foster Parent.
With our experience, expertise, and personalised approach, we are dedicated to helping you change lives, starting with your own.
Comprehensive Support for Every Step of Your Fostering Journey
At AFA Fostering, Foster Parents are at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:
✔️24/7 Support – Round-the-clock help whenever you need it.
✔️A dedicated Social Worker – Your personal point of contact for guidance and advice.
✔️Specialist Fostering Training – Ongoing courses to help you provide the best possible care.
✔️A Strong Community – Connect with other foster families through support groups, activity days, and regular events.
✔️Practical Guidance – Step-by-step support to help you navigate every stage of your fostering journey.
✔️Therapeutic Resources – Tailored support for children with more complex needs.
✔️Financial Support – Transparent, generous fostering allowances to help you provide stability.
AFA is here to empower you, every step of the way.
Fair, Transparent, and Generous Fostering Allowances
At AFA Fostering, we offer generous allowances to allow you to provide for children you look after and to recognise the vital role you play.
You’ll receive a weekly payment that covers a child’s everyday needs, such as food, clothing, and pocket money, along with an additional reward element that values your time, skills, and dedication.
The amount you receive depends on factors like the child’s age, individual needs, your fostering type, and your experience. As a Foster Parent, you are classed as self-employed, and most carers benefit from a special HMRC tax scheme which means you often pay little or no income tax on your fostering allowance.
Why Foster Parents Trust AFA
As a social-worker-founded fostering agency, AFA Fostering is driven by values—not targets. Our Outstanding Ofsted rating reflects our commitment to putting children and foster families first.
Proudly supporting communities across East Anglia and the Midlands, we combine local insight with a personal approach, ensuring every family feels understood, valued, and supported.
With AFA, you’ll be part of a fostering community where integrity, respect, and genuine care guide everything we do.
Explore the Different Ways You Can Foster
Every fostering journey is unique, and with AFA Fostering you are never limited to just one path. You might offer short-term care, provide a long-term home, support a parent and child, or welcome siblings together at different stages of your journey. We work closely with you to find the right matches, giving you the flexibility to foster in a way that suits your family and makes the biggest difference to children’s lives.
Short-Term and Emergency Fostering
Short-term fostering provides a safe and supportive home for children while plans are made for their future. This can range from a few days to several months. Emergency fostering is similar but often happens at very short notice, giving vulnerable children immediate stability and care during a crisis.
Long-Term or Permanent Fostering
Some children are unable to return to their birth families and need a stable, loving home for the rest of their childhood. Long-term fostering gives them consistency and security while allowing you to form lasting, meaningful relationships. AFA works closely with you to ensure the right match for everyone involved.
Parent and Child Fostering
This specialist type of fostering supports parents who need guidance in caring for their own baby or young child. As a foster parent, you provide a safe home while helping the parent develop essential skills and confidence. It’s a highly rewarding role where you make a direct, positive impact on two lives at once.
Therapeutic Fostering
Some children have experienced significant trauma and require higher levels of care and understanding. Intensive fostering offers enhanced support, additional training, and regular clinical supervision from AFA’s Therapeutic Lead. Foster parents receive the tools they need to help children with complex emotional and behavioural needs thrive.
Stayover Fostering (Previously known as "Respite Fostering")
Stay over fostering provides a short break for children and their existing foster families. It can be anything from an overnight stay to a week or more. These breaks are essential for maintaining everyone’s wellbeing, giving children a change of scenery while allowing foster parents time to rest and recharge.
Sibling Group Fostering
Sibling fostering allows children to stay connected with their family and maintain strong emotional bonds during a challenging time. By caring for siblings together, you help provide stability, reduce disruption, and make the transition into fostering much smoother for the children.
FAQs
Answers to Your Questions About Fostering With AFA
Who can become a Foster Parent?
Almost anyone over the age of 21 can apply to foster. We welcome people from all walks of life, regardless of marital status, background, gender, sexuality, or whether you own or rent your home. What matters most is that you can offer a safe, stable, and caring environment for a child.
Do I need previous experience to foster?
No previous experience with children is required to become a Foster Parent. We provide full training and ongoing support to give you the skills and confidence you need at every stage of your journey.
How much support will I receive?
At AFA Fostering, you're never alone. You’ll have a dedicated Fostering Social Worker, access to 24/7 support, regular training opportunities, and a strong community of fellow foster parents to share experiences with and turn to for help.
I’m already a foster carer — can I transfer to AFA?
Absolutely! If you’re currently fostering with another agency or your local authority, you can transfer to AFA and join our supportive fostering community. We’ll guide you through every step of the process, ensuring a smooth transition for both you and the children in your care. Our experienced team will handle the paperwork, liaise with your current agency, and make sure you have the training, support, and resources you need to continue providing the best possible care.
Can I choose the age or type of child I foster?
Absolutely. During the application and matching process, we work closely with you to understand your preferences, skills, and circumstances, ensuring the best possible match for both you and the child in need.
How long does it take to become a Foster Parent?
Typically, the process takes around four to six months—from your initial enquiry through checks, training, home visits, and approval; allowing time to ensure you feel fully prepared and supported.
What training will I receive as a Foster Parent?
AFA provides comprehensive, ongoing training to give you the confidence and skills you need to provide the best possible care. From preparing to foster to specialist courses in areas like trauma-informed care and therapeutic approaches, you’ll have access to expert guidance at every stage of your journey.
In which locations is AFA looking to recruit Foster Parents?
AFA is actively recruiting Foster Parents across Norfolk, Suffolk, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire. In Norfolk, we cover areas such as Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Caister, North Walsham, Wymondham, Aylsham, Swaffham, Cromer, Kings Lynn, and Wisbech. In Northamptonshire, we work with families in Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Daventry, and Brixworth. Across Suffolk, we’re looking for Foster Parents in Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, and Diss. In Leicestershire, we cover Leicester, Melton Mowbray, and Market Harborough. And in Nottinghamshire, we support families around Nottingham, Newark, Draycott, and the surrounding towns and villages.
What Foster Parents & our partners are saying
AFA are keen to supporter and advocate the rights and views of both children and foster parents. The agency runs well and has flexible and accessible support and advice.
I’ve worked for/with AFA for 14 years and they are constantly trying to improve in all areas as well as supporting the carers, children, young people both birth and foster/Offer support in all areas for all children and young people within the foster home.
The carers I work with through AFA are wonderful. The Family Support Worker is supportive also and I think it says a lot about the agency to have such wonderful carers who are progressive and work well with the Local Authority.
Children are supported to build their identity. Carers offer non-judgemental and sensitive care that helps children to feel accepted.
Children are making exceptional progress. Children are supported to stay with families even when this is challenging.
Willingness to listen whilst keeping children's needs at the centre of conversations.
It’s lovely to have a family feeling with the whole team, so understanding, they listen, like a big family.
We are a family, and after an outstanding (exceptional Review) I would not want to foster for anyone else.
All is great that the agency has maintained its small agency, family approach.
I think it’s an outstanding agency and I’m so happy and proud to say I’m a foster carer with AFA.
I never underestimate how fortunate we are as a family to be supported by such amazing people who really care.
Why We Say Foster Parents
At AFA Fostering, we use the term Foster Parents instead of Foster Carers because we believe it’s more inclusive, positive, and less stigmatising. Following consultation, we chose language that better reflects the love, stability, and sense of belonging our families provide.
It reflects family-focused care
Highlighting connection and belonging, not just responsibility.
It reinforces parental roles
Our Foster Parents provide love, guidance, and stability, not just supervision.
It acknowledges professionalism and respect
Foster Parents are trained, supported, and treated as key partners in a child’s life.
