Fostering in the South of England

Sadly, there are over 2,000 children in the South of England who cannot be looked after by their own family. This could be because of illness or family breakdowns or because they have experienced some form of neglect. TACT are recruiting foster carers across the South of England to provide care and support to these children. If you have a spare bedroom, a caring nature and energy to provide a child with a happy home, we believe you could become an amazing foster carer!

With over 25 years experience in foster care, we are the UK’s largest dedicated fostering charity. When you choose to foster with TACT, you will receive a generous fostering allowance, 24/7 support and access to a comprehensive training programme. You could join our amazing Fostering South Coast team of foster carers.

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.

“Fostering has been a wonderful adventure so far.”

“We had found ourselves living back in the UK after some years adventuring overseas – we were in our early 30s, married, just bought our first home and had a spare bedroom. It wasn’t an immediate thought that our spare room could be a foster child’s bedroom. Our first thought was that it would become a study or a water sports storage room! However, we had always said we’d consider fostering a child rather than having our own…”

What do TACT foster carers benefit from?

We are the UK’s largest dedicated fostering charity. This means that all our surplus income is reinvested into foster carers and our young people.
24/7 support ensuring that whatever you face as a foster carer you are never alone
Competitive fees and allowances, worked out depending on the detail of each placement
An excellent training package, tailored to your needs and those of the children placed with you
Regular meetings and support groups, giving you the chance to meet other foster carers and share experience
Dedicated events for the children in your care, giving them the chance to meet other fostered children
Access to our specialist Health & Education Services, to further help you provide care to vulnerable children

“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…”

This is Christine, she looks after our Fostering South England team

“I have always worked with children from 0-18 years in a variety of settings including the NHS, Local Authorities, and small Charitable organisations. TACT’s ethos is putting the child at the centre and that resonates with me – making TACT a charity I am proud to be a part of.”

– Christine McGillvary

How to become a foster carer with TACT?

If you’re interested in becoming a foster carer with TACT, you can request an information pack by completing the form on this page, or call us on 0330 123 2250.

Our bases in the South of England for training and support are located in Wimborne (Dorset) and in Havant (Hampshire) meaning that we are always local to you.

Although our carer hubs are located across the South of England, as an approved foster carer you will be registered to our South London fostering service. Find out more in our Statement of Purpose.

Read our latest Ofsted Report.