Can I foster in The South of England?

The first step is to check that you fulfil the basic general fostering requirements:

  • Are you at least 21 years old?
  • Do you have at least one spare bedroom in your home?
  • Are you a full-time resident of the UK, or do you have indefinite leave to remain?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to all three questions, you have fulfilled the initial criteria. We would now like to talk to you further about why you would like to become a foster carer, and ask you some more questions. Please complete our ‘start your fostering journey’ form on this page.


Who are the children we need carers for in the South of England?

We are recruiting foster carers all across the South of England, however there is a particular demand for foster carers in and around the areas of Bournemouth, Dorset, Hampshire, Poole and Portsmouth.

We would ideally like to hear from people who would like to care for children aged five years and over, sibling groups or children with complex needs. All of our foster families in the South of the England are currently caring for children, and the demand for high quality foster carers means we need more capacity.

 

Why foster with TACT?

Foster carers come to us for many reasons and they stay with us – because we help them do the most rewarding job in the world. Together we transform the lives of children and young people, giving them the chance to lead happy, loving, fulfilled lives.

At TACT we are more than just a fostering agency; as a charity we put our foster carers and the children they care for at the heart of everything that we do.

Choosing to become a foster carer is one of the most rewarding decisions you will ever make, and we will be by your side every step of the way making sure that you feel valued, encouraged and supported – that is why 98% of our foster carers would recommend fostering with TACT.

 

Across the South region, we offer:

  • Local training and support groups hosted in Wimborne and Havant.
  • We have achieved an Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’ in our most recent inspection
  • Social workers based in both Dorset and Hampshire, meaning support is always available.
  • Children and foster carer events throughout the year, including trips to aquariums, theme parks and the beach. We understand what a vital role the birth children of our foster carers play within fostering families, so they also attend all events and days out.
  • Our new foster carers are ‘buddied’ with our more experienced foster carers to provide additional support. Our foster families also regularly meet up for coffee mornings and days out.
  • Support to our foster families is provided by social workers, children’s resource workers, therapists and educational support.

Read Annette and Andrew's blog here

“Our foster daughters can focus on their future without worrying about losing each other.”

“My husband Andrew comes from a family who frequently cared for young disabled residents as his elder sister was a nurse. My mother-in-law subsequently became attached to one girl who she eventually ended up offering respite weekends to. Therefore, as a teenager Andrew was already familiar with caring for others, so the idea of fostering made a lot of sense for us…”