What is Fostering?
Fostering provides children and young people with a safe, caring and stable home when they cannot live with their birth families. Placements can last from a few days to several years, depending on each child’s needs and circumstances. Foster parents play a vital role in giving children a sense of security, belonging and hope during times of uncertainty. Working as part of a team alongside social workers, schools and other professionals, they help children feel valued, supported and understood while plans are made for their future. Fostering can be both challenging and incredibly rewarding, offering the opportunity to make a lasting, life changing difference to a child’s life, and to your own.
Making a Real Difference
Foster parents play a vital role in helping children rebuild trust and confidence. You do not need special qualifications, just patience, understanding and a genuine desire to help. With AFA, you will be supported every step of the way through training, 24/7 advice and a dedicated local team.
Every moment of care, encouragement and support helps a child move forward, and that is what makes fostering so special.
AFA has been supporting foster parents across East Anglia and The Midlands since 2010.
Enquire now
Make an enquiry to find out more abot how you can become a Foster parent.
FAQs
Check our FAQ for answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Book a call back
Need advice? Schedule a call with a friendly and knowledgable fostering advisor.
Comprehensive Support for Every Step of Your Fostering Journey
When you join AFA Fostering, you are never alone:
✔️ 24/7 support line
✔️ Dedicated social worker
✔️ Specialist training
✔️ Foster carer community
✔️ Practical step by step guidance
✔️ Therapeutic resources
✔️ Generous financial allowances
✔️ Social events for the whole family
What makes a good Foster Parent?
At AFA Fostering, we believe that great foster parents come from many different backgrounds.
The qualities we look for are:
✔️Resilience and determination
✔️ Warmth and honesty
✔️ Strong teamwork
✔️ Willingness to learn
✔️ Flexibility
✔️ Good organisation
✔️ Consistency
Finding out more is easy...
Our fostering advisors offer plenty of guidance and advice. They will talk you through what’s involved in fostering and the fostering assessment process. They will answer any questions you may have on the foster parent background checks, fostering allowances, and anything else you can think of. To get in touch, complete the short form below, give us a call, or pre-book a call back at a time that suits you.
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does fostering mean?
Fostering means providing a safe, caring and stable home for a child or young person who cannot live with their birth family. It can be short-term or long-term, depending on each child’s situation, but every placement offers the chance for a child to feel secure and supported.
How is fostering different from adoption?
Fostering is usually a temporary arrangement while plans are made for a child’s future. Adoption is permanent and transfers full legal responsibility to the adoptive parents. Many foster parents support children through this journey, sometimes even helping prepare them for adoption when that is the right plan.
Who can become a foster parent?
Fostering is open to people from many different backgrounds. You do not need to be married, own your home or have children of your own. What matters most is that you can provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for a child.
How long do children stay in foster care?
The length of time varies depending on the child’s needs and circumstances. Some children stay for a few days or weeks, while others may remain with their foster parents for several years or until adulthood. Every situation is unique, and AFA will match you carefully with each placement.
Do I get to choose the type of fostering I do?
We work with you to understand which types of fostering placements fit best with your experience, family and availability. Many foster parents offer different kinds of placements at different times, depending on the needs of children in their area.
What support will I receive from AFA?
You will have 24/7 access to professional advice, regular supervision, training and a dedicated local social worker. AFA also provides a strong support network of fellow foster parents, family events and ongoing learning opportunities.
Why do children need fostering?
Children come into foster care for many reasons. Some families face temporary difficulties such as illness, financial problems or relationship breakdowns. Others may involve concerns about neglect or safety. Fostering ensures children are cared for in a stable, loving home while plans for their future are made.
Is fostering rewarding?
Yes. Fostering can be both challenging and deeply fulfilling. Watching a child grow in confidence, develop new skills and feel safe again brings an incredible sense of purpose. Many foster parents describe fostering as one of the most meaningful things they have ever done.
Not ready to make an enquiry but looking for further information?
Fill in your details to receive our information pack, directly to your email address.
"flexible and accessible support and advice"
"AFA are keen to support and advocate the rights and views of both children and foster parents. The agency runs well and has flexible and accessible support and advice."
- Foster Parent
"Ofsted - Outstanding"
"The service’s support is such that carers go ‘above and beyond’ in their role, and staff are described as kind, supportive, knowledgeable and going out of their way to help."
- Ofsted Report
"People Who Really Care"
"I never underestimate how fortunate we are as a family to be supported by such amazing people who really care."
- Foster Parent
