Mosaic Foster Care has been recognised as UK Small Business of the Year at The UK Business Awards 2026.

The award recognises the thoughtful, values-led approach that underpins the work carried out by Mosaic Foster Care. In one of the UK’s most challenging care sectors, it reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to providing safe, stable homes for children and young people while supporting foster parents with the training, therapeutic expertise and practical support they need to thrive.

At the heart of this approach is SMILE, Mosaic Foster Care’s in-house therapeutic framework that brings together reflective practice, experiential training and rapid-response professional support. Rather than being treated as an add-on, SMILE is embedded throughout the organisation, helping to create the conditions for more stable, therapeutic fostering.

Following the award win, Business Awards UK spoke with Mosaic Foster Care’s Director, Andre Palmer, about Mosaic’s purpose, growth, challenges and what comes next.

Inside Mosaic Foster Care: long-term therapeutic fostering with a clear purpose

Andre said: “We’re focused on providing safe, stable homes for children and young people who need long term therapeutic care. Our role is to recruit, train, and support foster carers, ensuring they have everything they need to provide high-quality care.

“I’m responsible for leading the overall strategy and growth of the organisation, while making sure we stay true to our core purpose – delivering the best possible outcomes for the children we support. That means balancing commercial performance with quality of care and building a strong team and culture that puts people first.”

Purpose, people and consistency: what drives Mosaic Foster Care’s award-winning success

Andre explained:

“I’d attribute our success to a clear sense of purpose, combined with consistent execution. We’ve always been very focused on why we exist – improving outcomes for children and supporting foster families for the long term – and that shapes every decision we make.

“Alongside that, we’ve invested heavily in people. The quality, commitment and values of our team and foster parents are what really set us apart. If you get that right, everything else follows.

“Finally, we’ve stayed disciplined, doing the basics well, listening to feedback and continuously improving rather than chasing quick wins. That combination of purpose, people and consistency has been the foundation of our growth.”

Growing a foster care agency without compromising children’s outcomes

Andre continued:

“Our biggest challenge has been scaling the organisation while protecting the quality of care we provide. In our sector, growth can’t come at the expense of children’s outcomes, and demand has been rising quickly, and expectations from local authorities are high.

“We faced real pressure around recruiting and retaining high-quality foster carers, while also supporting an increasingly complex cohort of children.

“Rather than grow too quickly, we made a conscious decision to invest heavily in training, wraparound support and our internal team. That wasn’t the easiest commercial decision in the short term, but it was the right one.

“As a result, we’ve been able to grow sustainably, improve placement stability and maintain strong relationships with our carers and partners. That challenge forced us to be very clear about our values – and ultimately made the organisation stronger.”

Andre went on to explain:

“I think what made us stand out was our ability to combine strong growth with genuinely measurable impact. In our sector, it’s not enough to just grow; we have to demonstrate better outcomes for children and real support for foster parents, and that’s where we’ve focused.

“The specific area I’d point to is the way we’ve built a much more comprehensive therapeutic support model around our foster parents and children. We didn’t just recruit – we invested in training, 24/7 support and a more joined-up, outcomes-focused approach. That’s led to greater placement stability and better experiences for the young people in our care.

“At the same time, we’ve been able to scale that model sustainably, without diluting quality. I think that balance – clear purpose, backed up by practical delivery and results – is what really set us apart.”

Three consecutive Outstanding Ofsted judgements – and no standing still

Andre also reflected on Mosaic Foster Care’s most recent Ofsted inspection:

“At our most recent Ofsted inspection we achieved an Outstanding judgement, our third consecutive award at this level. We were told by the inspector to keep doing what we are doing. We will, but we will also continue to innovate to ensure our children have the best possible chances in life and our foster parents are properly supported in their vital work.

“Being recognised alongside other strong businesses gives you a sense of where you sit in the wider landscape. For us, it’s been great for the team as well. It’s a real moment to celebrate the people behind the work, and that recognition goes a long way internally as well as externally.”

What winning UK Small Business of the Year 2026 means for Mosaic Foster Care’s future

Being named Small Business of the Year is an achievement Mosaic Foster Care is incredibly proud of, but it’s also recognition of the people who make Mosaic Foster Care what it is every day – its foster parents, its team and the children and young people it supports.

As the agency looks ahead, its focus remains exactly where it has always been: continuing to innovate, strengthening the support provided to foster families and helping more children experience the stability, care and opportunities they deserve.

Thinking of fostering?

Speak to a fostering adviser today.

About Mosaic Foster Care

Mosaic Foster Care is an independent fostering agency providing Ofsted Outstanding rated therapeutic foster care across Essex, Suffolk, Bedfordshire including Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, NorthKent, Northamptonshire and Worcestershire. Our mission is to ensure every child in our care thrives in a stable, nurturing home. We achieve this by providing long-term foster placements and by carefully matching children and foster parents. We keep caseloads small and embed in-house professionally delivered therapy and youth support into everyday practice – so no child is ever left waiting for the critical support they need.  Foster parents receive more than £700 per week after training and benefit from ongoing professional development, and a community that truly understands the rewards and challenges of fostering. 

An Essex-based fostering agency has highlighted the challenges faced by professionals contained in a new report from the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers (NAFP).

Mosaic Foster Care, an independent fostering agency providing Ofsted Outstanding rated therapeutic foster care, supports the report’s central point – children entering foster care are presenting with increasingly complex needs, yet access to therapeutic support remains inconsistent, delayed and, in many areas, impossible to secure.

For children who have experienced trauma, loss, neglect or instability, those delays can have serious consequences. 

The NAFP report warns a lack of timely therapeutic support is placing additional pressure on foster families and increasing the risk of child placement breakdowns.

It also recognises that many independent fostering agencies are being forced to step in and bridge gaps in provision themselves because specialist services are simply not available quickly enough. 

Mosaic Managing Director Greg De Smidt said: “For children whose lives have already been shaped by uncertainty, every delay matters. 

“The concerns raised in the NAFP report are not isolated observations. They point to a fostering system under increasing strain.”

The devastating consequences of a system under ever-increasing pressure 

According to the report: 

• More than 80% of fostering providers say recruiting new foster parents is now a significant challenge. 

• 72% report growing difficulties retaining experienced foster parents. 

• More than 90% say the complexity of children’s needs has increased. 

• 78% believe current commissioning arrangements are creating barriers to delivering high-quality child placements. 

• 92% feel independent fostering agencies are not sufficiently recognised as essential partners in children’s social care. 

At the same time, the number of mainstream foster households in England has fallen by 10% since 2021, while the overall number of children in care continues to rise. 

The NAFP report identifies improved access to therapeutic support as one of the most urgent priorities facing the sector. 

Why access to therapeutic fostering support matters 

Greg added: “When people think about fostering, they often picture a child arriving in a safe and stable home and gradually settling into family life. While this absolutely happens, the reality is often more complex. 

“Many children in care have experienced significant adverse childhood experiences. These experiences can affect emotional regulation, relationships, trust, self-esteem and behaviour long after the original events have passed. 

“The impact of trauma does not disappear simply because a child moves into a nurturing home. In fact, it is often once children begin to feel safe that some of their deepest challenges begin to surface.” 

Foster parents play a huge role in helping children recover from trauma. However, even the most experienced foster parent cannot be expected to navigate every challenge alone. 

Without specialist support, small difficulties can escalate. Relationships can become strained. Foster parents can feel isolated and overwhelmed. Most importantly, children can miss out on the help they need at the point they need it most. 

Waiting for help takes a heavy toll on foster families 

One of the NAFP report findings that has concerned Mosaic the most is the continued inconsistency in access to therapeutic services across the country. 

Many foster families find themselves facing lengthy waits for specialist interventions, counselling or therapeutic input. By the time support becomes available, situations may already have escalated significantly. 

This loads pressure onto everyone involved – children continue to struggle, foster parents are left trying to respond to increasingly complex challenges and social care professionals are often working within systems where the support they know a child needs simply is not available quickly enough. 

For a child who has already experienced instability, every delay can increase the risk of their placement becoming unsettled. 

Why Mosaic Foster Care chooses to take a different approach 

In response to this very challenge, Mosaic Foster Care developed its SMILE therapeutic framework and built an in-house therapeutic team that sits at the heart of everything the agency does. 

Greg added: “Rather than relying solely on external services, our foster families have direct access to accredited psychotherapists, therapists and specialist therapeutic professionals who understand both trauma and fostering. 

“Support is available when it is needed, not months later, which means foster parents can receive guidance early. Children can access therapeutic interventions sooner and challenges can be explored before they develop into crises. 

“Just as importantly, therapeutic support is not reserved solely for the child. Birth children, foster parents and family dynamics all play a role in creating a stable environment where children can recover and thrive. Our therapeutic approach reflects this reality.”

Independent recognition of Mosaic Foster Care’s therapeutic model 

Earlier this year, Ofsted recognised the impact of this approach during its inspection of Mosaic Foster Care, awarding the agency an Outstanding rating for the third time in a row – only 1% of fostering agencies have achieved this in the country. 

Inspectors described Mosaic’s therapeutic model as being “central to its success” and highlighted the quality of the agency’s therapeutic team. The report noted that foster parents and staff described therapeutic support as “responsive, accessible and often goes above and beyond”. 

Inspectors also recognised children and foster parents benefit from regular therapeutic consultation, reflective practice and consistent emotional support. 

Are you considering becoming a foster parent? 

If you’re exploring fostering and want to understand what meaningful therapeutic support looks like in practice, speak to an experienced Mosaic foster parent today and discover how their therapeutic approach supports children, foster parents and the whole family from day one. 

About Mosaic Foster Care 

Mosaic is an independent fostering agency covering Essex, Suffolk, Bedfordshire including Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, North Kent,Northamptonshire and Worcestershire. Its mission is to ensure every child in its care thrives in a stable, nurturing home. It achieves this by providing long-term foster placements and by carefully matching children and foster parents. Mosaic keeps caseloads small and embeds in-house professionally delivered therapy and youth support into everyday practice – so no child is ever left waiting for the critical support they need. Foster parents receive more than £700 per week after training and benefit from ongoing professional development, and a community thattruly understands the rewards and challenges of fostering.

Tyne and Wear based voluntary adoption agency, ARC Adoption North East, is celebrating after receiving its report from regulator Ofsted, which inspected them in March of this year.

It's the third consecutive time that the agency has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ in all categories covered by the inspection. Inspectors praised the organisation for the significant difference it made to the life outcomes of children, young people and adults.

Inspectors, who looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and adults that the agency works with, commented:

'There is a huge focus in the agency for securing permanence for children and keeping families together. The range of pre- and post-adoption support provided by the agency is incredible. The support that children and adopters receive from the agency is lifelong.'

This sentiment was echoed by adopters who spoke to inspectors about their experiences with ARC Adoption: 

'The agency has over delivered to ensure my child thrives.'

'From the beginning you get a sense of passion from the agency and they really understand adoption.'

'From the minute I stepped into the information event, I have never looked back.'

The Ofsted report referenced the ‘overwhelmingly positive’ experience highlighted by prospective adopters and adopters, and the strong feeling of family within the agency. A wide range of support for families was referenced, including:

• Quality training and preparation for adopters that helps them understand children’s early experiences and how best to care for them
  
• Supportive and diligent assessment of adopters, and robust matching with children including input of an in-house clinical psychologist
  
• An open-door policy for children and adopters, to drop in or call for support
  
• Opportunities for children and families to enjoy activities and days out together, as well as a range of growing support groups
  
• Direct support for education or learning issues children may experience, with the agency’s new education advisor
  
• A strong focus on children’s safety with a proactive and creative safeguarding practice
  

The agency was also highly commended for its timely and sensitive work with adults who have been adopted and birth parents who have had children removed from their care.

Director, Terry Fitzpatrick OBE, who founded ARC Adoption in 2014, alongside Assistant Director, Lorraine Jefferson, said: 

'We are absolutely delighted to again achieve an Outstanding rating by Ofsted and it is humbling to read such wonderful feedback from the inspectors. Lorraine and I are extremely proud of the team, and the result is testament to their dedication and ongoing hard work. We all feel privileged to work in the field of adoption and securing permanence for children. While adoption is not an easy route to parenthood, we believe in the difference it can make to children’s lives and to those people who wish to become parents, and are committed to supporting families in every way we can.

'We’d also like to send our sincere thanks to the children, parents and other adults supported by our agency who contributed their feedback of our service to the Ofsted inspectors. It is really appreciated by the whole team.'

Since ARC Adoption was established in 2014, the agency has helped to find loving homes for over 360 children, and has approved 340 families to adopt. During the last financial year, approximately 50 per cent of the families approved by ARC Adoption identified as LGBTQ+.

Today there are over 3,000 children with a plan of adoption in England and 200 in the North East alone. The ARC Adoption team welcomes enquiries from anyone who may be interested in becoming an adoptive parent and provide a loving home to a child or children.

The agency hosts regular information sessions where people can hear about adopting from the team and an experienced adopter. Anyone interested can book a space via the website.

ARC Adoption was inspected between 02-05 March 2026, with the report released in April 2026. 

Read the Ofsted report

Submitted by ARC Adoption, which subscribes to New Family Social. 

Refugee Week (15 – 21 June) invites us to reflect on those who have sought safety in the UK.

This year’s theme - “Courage” - is especially meaningful when we think about separated migrant children. These young people arrive alone, often after incredibly difficult journeys.

Separated children show remarkable resilience, but they cannot do it alone. Foster carers across our community step forward with kindness and courage. They offer stability, helping young people settle into education, build relationships, develop life skills, and begin to look ahead to their future with hope. Many carers speak about how rewarding this is - from the connections they make, to seeing young people grow in confidence and independence.

There’s a growing need for foster carers who can provide a caring home for children arriving in our area without family. What they need most is simple: a safe home, patience, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. With the right care, they can thrive.

Fostering may feel like a big step, but you won’t be alone. You’ll be supported by an experienced team and a strong network of other carers.

If fostering isn’t right for you, you can still make a difference.

Help spread the word. Talk to others about the need for local foster carers. Encourage them to ask questions, and explore what’s involved. There’s no obligation, just an opportunity to learn.

Together, we can show courage, build community, and ensure every child has the chance to feel safe and supported.

Submitted by Swindon Borough Council's Fostering Team, part of Fostering South West. You can find out more about Fostering South West online or by calling 0300 456 0120. 

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.

Mosaic Foster Care, a therapeutic fostering agency with foster families in Essex, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, North Kent and Worcestershire, has been awarded the highest possible rating in all three categories of its latest Ofsted inspection.

This is its third consecutive inspection in which it achieved triple Outstanding, cementing Mosaic Foster Care’s reputation as one of the most highly regarded therapeutic fostering providers in the country.

Mosaic Foster Care achieved Outstanding ratings for children’s experiences and progress, safeguarding, and leadership and management following a week-long inspection in January. The inspection report was published late last month.

Inspectors praised the agency for providing 'highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good', helping children recover from trauma and build stable family lives.

The report highlights how children placed with Mosaic foster carers experience remarkable progress, often after multiple placement breakdowns before arriving at the agency.

Inspectors noted that many children remain with their foster carers long-term, with a high proportion continuing to live with their carers beyond the age of 18 through “staying put” arrangements – evidence of the deep bonds formed within families and an attention to outcomes over commercial gain.

A therapeutic model delivering stability

Founded by Andre Palmer, Mosaic Foster Care was created to provide a different kind of fostering service – one built around therapeutic support for both children and the families who care for them.

The agency’s in-house therapeutic team and specialist support workers form a central part of the model. They ensure foster carers receive immediate help when challenges arise rather than having to wait for access to NHS services.

Inspectors described the therapeutic approach as 'central to the agency’s success', highlighting the responsive support carers receive through regular consultation, reflective practice and specialist training.

Andre Palmer said the latest inspection reflects years of work building a culture focused on stability and long-term outcomes for children:

'We started Mosaic because we knew foster parents needed more support if they were going to help children recover from trauma and build stable lives.

'This report confirms what we’ve always believed – when foster parents are properly supported, children in their care thrive.'

Foster carers at the heart of success

Ofsted also highlighted the strong relationships between Mosaic Foster Care staff and its foster carers, noting the latter consistently report feeling exceptionally well supported.

Because supervising social workers maintain smaller caseloads, they are able to build deep relationships with families and respond quickly when support is needed.

This approach has helped the agency achieve an exceptional placement stability rate of 95 per cent, compared to a national average of 68 per cent.

'Children experience stability, form trusting relationships and make progress that exceeds expectations,' inspectors wrote in the report.

Real families changing children’s lives

Behind the inspection outcome are the foster carers who provide homes for children who cannot live with their birth families.

Among them are:

• Bev, a single foster carer who transformed the life of a young person who had previously struggled to settle elsewhere. They remain with Bev age 20, in a staying put arrangement.
• Alan began fostering at the age of 68, proving it's never too late to change a child’s life.
• Thelma, who fosters alongside her son, creating a unique family environment for the child in their care.
• Livvy, whose husband made the decision to leave work so the couple could foster together full-time.
• Tracey, who has fostered 8 young people over 15 years

Their experiences highlight the diversity of people who become foster carers and the life-changing difference they can make.

Demand for foster carers remains critical

Despite the success of agencies like Mosaic, the UK continues to face a significant shortage of foster carers.

The agency, a member of New Family Social, is now encouraging more people across Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, North Kent and Worcestershire to consider long term fostering.

Andre Palmer said:

'The reality is that there are many more children who need stable homes than there are families available to provide them.

'The incredible work our foster parents do every day shows what’s possible when the right support is in place.'

Submitted by Mosaic Foster Care

One of the first concerns anyone has when they start thinking about fostering is often the money.

People want to know if, when and how much foster carers get paid. Whether the income you earn as a foster carer is stable enough to live on. And they want to know what happens financially if a placement suddenly ends.

These are sensible questions. For many households, fostering becomes a professional commitment that replaces a traditional job. Understanding how fostering finances work is therefore an important part of deciding whether fostering is right for you and your family.

At the same time, many people say they feel slightly uncomfortable raising the topic. Fostering is about helping children who need stability and care, so conversations about money can sometimes feel awkward.

In reality, financial clarity matters. Knowing how fostering income works and what support is available helps prospective foster carers make informed decisions.

To help explain this clearly, Mosaic Foster Care will host a free online session: Fostering Finances Uncovered: What You Really Need to Know on Thursday March 26, from 2–3pm.

The webinar will walk through how fostering finances work and answer the practical questions people often have when they first begin exploring fostering.

Across the UK, fostering income usually has two main elements.

The first is the allowance, which covers the everyday costs of caring for a child. This includes essentials such as food, clothing, school items, travel and activities.

The second is the professional fee, which recognises the time, responsibility and skill involved in fostering. Caring for a child who may have experienced trauma or instability requires commitment and emotional availability and the professional fee reflects this.

Different fostering agencies present these payments in different ways. Some show the allowance and fee separately, while others combine them into a single weekly payment. At Mosaic Foster Care, the two are combined into one clear weekly payment to make the structure simple and transparent. The team will explain this structure in more detail during the Fostering Finances Uncovered webinar, including how different agencies present payments and what prospective carers should look out for when comparing options.

Mosaic Foster Care is currently recruiting foster carers in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, North Kent and Worcestershire.

Why comparing fostering agencies can be confusing

Weekly amounts can vary significantly between agencies. However, the initial figures rarely tell the full story.

While the government sets a minimum fostering allowance, there's no national standard for the professional fee paid to foster carers. Agencies and local authorities therefore structure their payments differently.

Support packages can also vary widely. Some agencies include therapy, training and additional support within their overall offer, while others structure these services differently.

Because of this, comparing the compensation packages offered by fostering agencies is not easy.

During the webinar Mosaic’s team will talk through the key questions prospective carers should ask when comparing agencies, including how support and payments are structured, what the tax implications are and more.

You can reserve your place here

Article submitted by Mosaic Foster Care, an independent fostering agency. The agency provides Ofsted Outstanding rated therapeutic foster care across Essex, Suffolk, Bedfordshire including Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, North Kent, Northamptonshire and Worcestershire. Its mission is to ensure every child in its care thrives in a stable, nurturing home. The agency achieves this by providing long-term foster placements and by carefully matching children and foster carers.

LGBTQ+ Adoption & Fostering Week returns from 2 March. Led by New Family Social it aims to inspire LGBTQ+ people across the UK to explore adoption and fostering as routes to building their family. The campaign focuses on the fact that there’s no such thing as the perfect time to start this journey.

Now’s the time – this year’s theme – encourages LGBTQ+ potential applicants to start their journey now. There’s never a perfect time to adopt or foster, but with an urgent need for more applicants, now’s the time to take the first steps.

In England alone, there’s widespread concern about a shortage of approved adopters for the number of children with adoption as their care plan. The government in Westminster also recently committed to recruiting 10,000 new foster care places.

 

Run by LGBTQ+ adopters and foster carers and delivered in partnership with adoption and fostering agencies nationwide, the week will challenge myths and build confidence in prospective candidates. The campaign will share the voices of those who’ve already adopted, or now foster, alongside agencies that want to hear from LGBTQ+ potential applicants.

Agencies across England, Scotland and Wales will speak directly to LGBTQ+ potential adoptive parents and foster carers, through a series of social media films. Asking what LGBTQ+ applicants can expect when going on their parenting journey with the agency, and why now is the time to start exploring adoption or fostering, the films show the human side to what can be a daunting process. With some 85 agencies participating, there are options for LGBTQ+ people across the country.

Throughout the campaign, potential applicants can: 

• Hear directly from LGBTQ+ adopters and foster carers about when they took their first steps into parenting and caring
• Hear from adoption and fostering agencies that offer LGBTQ+ applicants specific support and that are keen to hear from people in the community who could apply
• Learn about the different paths into adoption and fostering 

Tor Docherty, Chief Executive of New Family Social, said:

‘So many LGBTQ+ people tell us they felt they had to wait for a perfect moment before looking into adoption or fostering. But that time never arrived and they went ahead anyway.

‘Right now our country’s most vulnerable children still need adoptive homes and foster carers. This week’s about saying: if you’re wondering whether this could ever be for you, now’s the time to take those vital first steps. Research the process. Understand how it’ll change your life. Learn about the support you’ll need to make it a success. Look at agencies that take part in the campaign to find out which is right for you.’

In England in 2025, 1 in 5 adoptions were to same-gender couples. The proportion was the same in Wales in 2024. In Scotland the proportion stood at 1 in 8 in 2024. Northern Ireland recorded 1 in 11 adoptions to same-gender couples in 2025. No UK government publishes equivalent data on people who currently foster.

During the week, participating agencies will share information, events and short films across social media. This will help potential applicants understand what support's available and how agencies work with LGBTQ+ people at every stage of their journey. 

Check out the campaign

Notes

Across the country, there are thousands of looked-after children and young people:

• In England in 2025 there were 81,770.
• In Wales in 2024 there were 7,198.
• In Scotland in 2024 there were 11,844.
• In Northern Ireland in 2025 there were 4,188 children in care.

Submitted by Diagrama, which subscribes to New Family Social's services:

The government has announced plans to relax fostering rules and cut red tape in a bid to create 10,000 new foster placements for vulnerable children in England. Current regulations - which in some areas restrict fostering to married homeowners who don't work full-time - will be updated to make it easier for full-time workers and people from diverse backgrounds to become foster carers. Additional measures include clearer guidance for prospective carers, practical support for home improvements such as extensions, and closer regional collaboration to streamline training, approvals, and placements. An extra £88 million will be invested to overhaul the fostering system and increase the availability of family-based care.

The move comes in response to a critical shortage of foster carers, with numbers falling from 63,890 in 2021 to 56,345 in March 2025, and 1,140 fewer foster placements available in the last year alone. Ministers highlight that many children are instead being placed in residential homes, which are more expensive and less suitable for long-term development. The proposals also aim to provide better day-to-day support for carers, including programmes such as Mockingbird, which connects foster families for advice, respite, and mutual support. The plans are intended to encourage more people to step forward while ensuring that children receive stable, loving, and appropriate family care.

Kate Patel, Head of Fostering and Adoption, Diagrama Foundation, responds to the announcement:

'There is a great deal of discussion in the media today about proposed changes to fostering, and while we need time to fully digest the detail, what feels most important right now is to be clear and proud about the work foster carers already do.

'At Diagrama Fostering, we work with outstanding foster carers who provide safe, nurturing homes to children with very complex life experiences. Some of our carers work full time alongside fostering, some part time, others live in rented accommodation rather than owning their own homes. What unites them is their commitment, skill, and ability to put children’s needs first.

'Children who need fostering have often experienced trauma and instability from a very young age. They require carers who can dedicate time, emotional energy, and consistency, alongside strong professional support from their fostering agency. Any review that shines a spotlight on fostering and recognises the urgent need for more carers is welcome, but we must also remain realistic about the demands of the role.

'We would be cautious about any move to overly relax assessment or approval processes. Robust systems exist to safeguard children and carers alike and weakening these risks poor practice and an increase in allegations, which helps no one. What foster carers need is excellent, consistent support, something we know is central to good outcomes and something Diagrama prioritises.

'There have been suggestions that some independent fostering agencies make significant profits. At Diagrama, this is not the case – we are a not-for-profit organisation and every penny we receive is reinvested directly into supporting vulnerable children and their foster families.

'We note the government’s intention to reduce reliance on profit-making providers, encourage greater local authority capacity, and explore regional collaboration models similar to adoption. Not-for-profit organisations like Diagrama have a valuable role to play in supporting these ambitions and ensuring quality and stability remain at the heart of fostering.

'We will continue to review the proposals in detail and look forward to contributing constructively to discussions and consultations about how best to support children, foster carers, and the wider fostering system.'

'Life-affirming. Rewarding. Fun. Challenging. Exhilarating.' We asked our local foster carers to sum up in words what it felt like to them to foster a child. Above are some of the words they used.

Others have talked about the support, training and mentorship that's available, both from the Council and from other local Foster Carers.

If you Foster with Torbay you'll get access to:

• Extensive support and training
• a dedicated social worker
• Mentoring from an experienced Foster Carer
• Support phone line
• access to a support network including local Foster Carers Forum
• events for you and your family throughout the year from a summer barbecue to Christmas party and the Train of Lights.
• Free beach hut access and other benefits such as free passes for Paignton Zoo and free tickets for home games at Torquay United, plus much more.

Every penny allocated to Torbay Council’s Fostering service is spent on achieving the best outcomes for our children in care – unlike some private fostering agencies that run as businesses to maximise return on investment for their shareholders.

If you're thinking of becoming a Foster Carer please contact us on 01803 207 845, by sending us an email, or visiting the Torbay Council Fostering webpages 

You can also check out this Fostering South West podcast episode featuring Annette from Torbay Council's Fostering Service.

Submitted by Torbay Council's Fostering Service, part of Fostering South West which subscribes to New Family Social's services.