Brighter Futures for Children is delighted to be part of a new Department for Education (DfE) funded project to help recruit more foster carers in the South East.

We have come together with 19 other local authorities to create the country’s largest local authority fostering partnership.

With over 11,000 children in care across the South East, and fewer than 3,000 local authority approved foster carers, there is an urgent need to recruit more people to provide safe, loving, and local homes for vulnerable children.

This new regional fostering hub draws on the collective skills, knowledge, resources and support of 20 local authorities.

Launched on 8 July 2024, Local Authority Fostering South East is a new virtual fostering hub which allows  prospective foster carers access to a centralised platform for their initial enquiries about fostering and will see local authorities work collaboratively to provide the best support, right from the start of a carer’s fostering journey.

The new regional hub will be running marketing campaigns to raise awareness of this unique role and encourage more people to take the next step and become a foster carer with their local council.

In doing so they will benefit from comprehensive local training, generous financial assistance, and ongoing support from a non-profit organisation.

Prospective foster carers will also benefit from a new fostering ambassador scheme, enabling them to speak to an existing carer to find out what this life-changing role is really like.

More information on becoming a foster carer can be found on the new regional website (LAfosteringSE.org.uk) and by following Local Authority Fostering South East on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Anyone interested in fostering can contact the regional hub directly to speak to a member of the recruitment team by calling 0300 131 2797 or you can email info@lafosteringse.org.uk