Kairos: So what's foster care about?

Understanding the heart of a system that changes lives

When we think of foster care, many people imagine institutional settings, but that's the minority is mostly outdated. Approximately 79% of children in out-of-home care are placed with either relative/kinship caregivers or non-relative foster parents. It’s that remainder that live in group homes, institutions, or supervised independent living arrangements.

At its core, foster care is all about giving children and young people what they need to thrive. It's a temporary arrangement where trained caregivers step in to provide love, stability, and nurture when children can't live with their own families for various reasons.

At its crux: the goal is to get them back with their family unless it's not possible (i.e. when parents have passed away) or it's not in the child's best interest. It’s a temporary solution —a safe harbour while families work to address the issues that led to the separation. It’s not a a singular organisation—it's a complex network woven of big government, local authorities, and agencies.

It’s more than roof over a child's head, in an ideal world—it's about nurturing and often creating a foundation for self-development, love, and value in a safe environment where children are invited to flourish during what might be the most challenging time of their lives.

Who Are These Amazing Kids?

The children in foster care come from all walks of life, but they share one thing in common: they need someone to believe in them. Recent government figures show close to 110,000 children are in care nationwide with most having experienced some form of risk, neglect, or abuse.

But it's not necessarily trauma that brings children into care. It can be anything from bereavement to a family breakdown, or a parent's serious illness. The average age a child enters the system is just 6 years old, though foster care serves everyone from babies to young adults up to 18.

Foster Carers: The Everyday Heroes

Foster carers are intrinsic and the backbone of the system. They're not just providing day-to-day care—they're advocates, cheerleaders, and trusted adults who celebrate achievements and offer comfort during tough times. Being a foster carer is about caring and advocating for children, and being someone they can unconditionally trust and talk to, no matter what.

According to Home for Good, in England alone, as of 2024 there were an estimated 83,630 children in care, to put that into perspective; the city of Bath has a population just shy of around 90,000, so essentially there’s a small city’s worth of children in care, and 2,210 awaiting care placements. Even more heart-breaking? The number of fostering households has decreased 15% since 2020 and is still on the decline.

The math is sobering: there are far too many children in need and not nearly enough foster families to accommodate them.

The Bottom Line

Foster care is about second chances, healing, and hope. It's about ordinary people doing extraordinary things for children who need someone to believe in their potential. Whether a child stays in care for a few months or several years, the goal remains the same: giving them what they need to thrive.

Every child deserves a safe, loving home where they can grow, learn, and discover their potential. Foster care, at its best, provides exactly that—a bridge between crisis and stability, between uncertainty and hope.