Fostering is about opening a home to a child who needs safety, stability and care. It’s about patience, consistency and believing in children when they may be struggling to believe in themselves. And in Swindon, fostering means making a difference locally, for children within the community.

This is fostering. It’s about supporting children through uncertainty, celebrating progress and helping them develop confidence for the future. It’s about commitment, compassion and quiet determination.

Here in our fostering team at Swindon Borough Council (SBC), we’re proud to be a not‑for‑profit, local authority service that puts children at the heart of everything we do. By fostering with us, our foster carers help children stay connected to their schools, friendships and familiar surroundings, because we know how important continuity and a sense of home are at times of change.

The people behind fostering

This is fostering: ordinary people doing something extraordinary.

SBC foster carers come from all walks of life. They may be single or in relationships, working or retired, renting or homeowners. They represent a wide range of cultures, faiths, genders and sexual orientations. What brings them together is not perfection, but a shared commitment to offering care, understanding and stability.

Foster carers use everyday skills such as listening, reassuring, encouraging and advocating, to help children feel safe and valued. Often, it is the small, consistent acts of care that have the greatest impact and help children begin to rebuild trust.

Supported every step of the way

This is fostering, with support that matters.

Our fostering team provides foster carers with local, accessible training that helps them understand children’s experiences and develop confidence in their role. Foster carers are supported by experienced fostering professionals who understand the local community and the realities of fostering life, as well as supporting each other too.

Where children need additional emotional or behavioural support, our team offers therapeutic services that benefit both children and fostering households. Foster carers are equipped with practical strategies and specialist advice, enabling them to respond to children’s needs with empathy, confidence and a trauma-informed approach.

Recognising the commitment of Foster Carers

This is fostering that recognises and values the dedication our carers show every day.

Foster carers receive a weekly allowance to cover the daytoday costs of caring for a child, alongside a skillsbased payment that reflects the knowledge and experience they build over time. This financial structure supports foster carers to focus fully on providing stable, nurturing care.

A strong and connected community

This is fostering together.

All SBC foster carers are automatically members of the Fostering Network, New Family Social and the Swindon Foster Carers Association. These networks provide peer support, shared learning opportunities and reassurance from others who understand the fostering journey.

There are many more additional benefits including access to the fostering holiday lodge at the Hoburne Cotswold site and eligibility to apply for a Blue Light Card, offering discounts across a wide range of services, and much more.

More than caring for today

By fostering locally with Swindon Borough Council, foster carers become part of a service that values their role and the lifechanging impact they have. The skills already within Swindon’s community are helping shape brighter futures for children every day.

This is fostering.

Your skills. Their future.

To find out more about fostering with Swindon Borough Council, visit www.swindon.gov.uk/fostering or call 07917 503447

Submitted by Swindon Borough Council's Fostering Team - part of Fostering South West Regional Fostering Agency, which subscribes to New Family Social.