The UK’s fostering crisis – causes and impacts

In the last year or so, the UK has experienced a shortage of foster carers willing to look after children in need. There are not enough potential carers replacing those who have retired, meaning that many children and young people end up living in group care homes.

This means that they aren’t able to live in a stable, loving family structure, and although residential care can provide some home comforts found in a traditional family, it cannot provide all of them. Beacon Fostering believes that every child has the right to live in a stable family home. Here are some factors contributing to the fostering crisis in the UK.

Living situations of families

More and more young adults are living at home with their parents, due to the rising costs of renting and buying homes. Additionally, spare rooms that would otherwise be suitable for a foster child’s bedroom are being used as offices and studies, which means that families are unable to accommodate foster children.

19% of people surveyed by Barnardo’s said they did not have suitable accommodations when asked why they wouldn’t consider fostering.

Impact on children in foster care

As a result of the lack of foster carers (caused by a decrease from 43,405 in 2023 to 42,615 in 2024), children who cannot live with their families of origin end up living miles away from them and their homes. The authorities are also having to split up siblings, meaning they could potentially lose connections with their families, friends and communities.

Helping families in need

Recruiting foster carers is not the only solution to this crisis – investment in local authorities will ensure that there are resources available for families whose children are at risk of entering foster care.

For many of us, however, opening our hearts and homes to those in need wherever we can is one of the single best ways we can help.