Share your home. Shape their future.
Welcome to Foster with us, your hub for all things fostering.
If you're curious about fostering with your local council and want to find out how rewarding it can be, or you think you could open your home to care for a child, this is the right place for you.
Your hub has information on the foster care process, including information about:
- fostering
- becoming a foster carer
- how rewarding it can be
- the challenges you may face
- the types of fostering
- training and support
- payments and benefits
- our innovative Mockingbird extended support network programme
- the experiences of fellow foster carers
- why we have combined forces to make sure you get a first-rate service as you begin your foster care journey
![Lady talking to a young boy who is reading a book while a teenage girl looks on](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/DFE_BATCH_SEVEN-4.jpg?h=33c11ae8&itok=K_85lbfT)
Once you have had a read through, you can arrange a call with one of our friendly team members. They will call you back on a day and a time to suit you. If you decide foster care is the right choice for you, we'll be with you every step of the way as you work through the fostering application process, providing bespoke training and support.
Foster with us is here to put you first. We know that providing the best for you will allow you to provide the best for our children. Thank you for considering sharing your home and shaping their future.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Why foster with us
Foster with us is a collaboration, uniting five local authorities in the north west. Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cumberland, Lancashire County and Westmorland and Furness are joining forces to provide the best start for anyone interested in exploring the opportunity of foster care.
We are combining our knowledge, skills and expertise to provide the best service for you, so that in turn we can shape the best future for our children.
![Man playing guitar while lady and 2 young children watch](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/Family%20guitar.jpg?h=b3aaf17e&itok=GAddCyVF)
Becoming a foster carer
We've created a step-by-step guide to answer all those common questions about the foster care application process.
Thinking about fostering?
We know starting to research fostering can be equally daunting and exciting - in this section you can find out the basics about fostering and the real difference fostering can make to families and children in our region.
![Adult female and young girl in a wheelchair](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/Adult%20female%20and%20young%20girl%20SEND.jpg?h=2260268e&itok=PuQrCvO9)
What is fostering?
Foster care provides stability, safety and a nurturing environment when children cannot live at home or with their family.
![Lady helping a teenage boy with his homework](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/DFE_BATCH_TWELVE-02.jpg?h=33c11ae8&itok=N5WPmir6)
Who can foster?
We are looking for foster carers from lots of different backgrounds who are as unique as the children in our region.
![Adult male and young girl](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/Adult%20male%20and%20young%20girl.jpg?h=4a0e3fc0&itok=Z8EkQfM1)
Types of fostering
As a foster carer, you can be approved for different types of fostering to suit your availability and circumstances.
![An elderly gentleman chatting to a young boy in a wheelchair](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/DFE_BATCH_ONE-5.jpg?h=33c11ae8&itok=cCpFTH2q)
Benefits of fostering
Fostering is a fulfilling and rewarding role where you'll have the opportunity to positively change the lives of children and young people in our region.
![Young female serving food to another child during a family meal](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/DFE_BATCH_FOUR-15.jpg?h=33c11ae8&itok=GgXrYvjq)
Mockingbird
Mockingbird is a fostering programme set up by the charity The Fostering Network. We're thrilled to be able to offer foster carers the opportunity to access this innovative fostering model and the benefits it provides.
![Adult man and woman playing bingo with two young children](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/DFE_BATCH_TWO-07%20V2.jpg?h=b1e4ec10&itok=tLircA8z)
Fees and allowances
Fostering is a professional role with responsibilities and the fees paid by all the partners of Foster with us reflect this. Understanding the financial side of things will help you to understand how foster care could be an option for you and your family.
Partners
![Let's Foster Blackburn with Darwen](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/Lets%20Foster%20BwD%20300%20x%20200.png?h=f4b39ada&itok=S6SpOJHg)
Blackburn with Darwen
Learn more about fostering in Blackburn with Darwen
![Fostering in Blackpool logo](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/Blackpool%20Rocks%20300%20x%20200.png?h=f4b39ada&itok=w5e8PgBd)
Blackpool
Learn more about fostering in Blackpool
![Cumbria Fostering logo](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/Cumbria%20300%20x%20200.png?h=f4b39ada&itok=YMs2pbzH)
Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness
Learn more about fostering in Cumbria
![Lancashire County Council logo](/sites/default/files/styles/large_3_2_768x512/public/2024-05/LCC%20logo.png?h=f4b39ada&itok=sQ1OKIB9)
Lancashire
Learn more about fostering in Lancashire