"Fostering rules will be relaxed and red tape cut to create 10,000 new places for vulnerable children in England, the government says. It will become easier for full-time workers to become foster carers under the plans and clearer guidelines are being drawn up to encourage people from diverse backgrounds to get involved. The government says more young people are ending up in children's homes rather than being placed with foster families because of a "critical shortage" of carers. It says an additional 88m will help overhaul the fostering system."
"Judy and Roxy Wilson, from BBC's The Traitors, attended a government launch of the plan. Judy fostered Roxy, before adopting her. Fostering is "hugely important," says Roxy, who was moved between a number of homes before settling with Judy. "You need settled moments in your life, especially as a kid. I think fostering is the best thing you can do to give a child that loving and settled feeling." Judy describes Roxy as "a breath of fresh air" and says people should not be put off fostering. "People don't want to do it because they think it is going to be very difficult," says Judy. "There's support out there, but not enough support.""
The government will relax fostering rules and cut bureaucracy to create 10,000 additional foster places and make it easier for full-time workers to become carers. Clearer guidelines aim to attract people from diverse backgrounds, while an extra 88m is allocated to overhaul the fostering system. Officials link a rise in children placed in homes rather than with families to a critical shortage of foster carers. Official figures show foster carers fell from 63,890 in 2021 to 56,345 in March 2025, a 12% drop, and 1,140 fewer placements existed in the past year. Personal accounts underline the importance and challenges of fostering, including limited space and financial pressures.
Read at www.bbc.com
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