Charities urge bold reform as Foster Carer numbers continue to fall

Leading children’s charities have called on the government to take urgent and imaginative action to address the declining number of foster carers in England, warning that the current system is failing too many children.

In a joint open letter to Josh MacAlister this week, Coram, Action for Children and TACT argue that existing arrangements are not delivering children’s fundamental right to grow up in safe, stable and loving homes where they can thrive.

The charities highlight a 7% fall in foster carers since 2021 and stress that recruitment alone will not solve the crisis. Instead, they call for reforms that make fostering more respectful, better supported and sustainable, so carers are encouraged to stay in the system.

The letter urges a coordinated, whole-system approach across local authorities, independent providers and government, suggesting that lessons could be learned from earlier reform programmes, including residential children’s home pathfinders.

Concerns are also raised about the availability of high-quality residential provision close to children’s communities, with many still being placed hundreds of miles from home.

While the Department for Education has committed £25 million to foster carer recruitment and support, aiming to attract 400 additional households, sector leaders have questioned how clearly the impact of this investment is being measured.

The charities conclude with a call for ambition, inviting government to work closely with the sector to deliver the scale of change needed.