Fostering a Better Future: Injection of cash 'is a positive step towards attracting more foster carers'

Portsmouth City Council has approved a £1.1 million package to better support foster carers as the city continues to feel the effects of a nationwide decline in fostering households.

The updated Carers' Fees and Allowances Policy for 2026/27 was signed off by the council's cabinet member for children, families and education following concerns over the growing difficulty of recruiting and retaining foster carers.

In response to the shortage of foster carers, The News launched its 'Fostering a Better Future' campaign on August 11 to support the recruitment of more carers across Hampshire by highlighting the growing need for families to provide safe, stable homes for vulnerable children.

New figures have highlighted the vast challenge council’s are facing, with the country bearing witness to a staggering decline of fostering households. As of March 2025, England had 33,435 foster homes, marking a 10 per cent drop since 2021.

Despite the shortage of carers, the number of children in care has continued to rise substantially, from 64,460 in 2010 to 81,770 in 2025 - the highest recorded numbers since the 1980s.

As a result, councils are becoming increasingly reliant on a shrinking pool of carers to support children that cannot live with their birth parents. In Hampshire, there are approximately 1,700 children are in care, with an estimated 400 in Portsmouth. An annual report for Portsmouth City Council, which was published last year, revealed there were 232 fostering households within its dedicated service - Foster Portsmouth.

The city council says it is among those experiencing difficulties attracting new carers, impacting its ability to place children in stable family homes close to their communities.

Mark Jowett, the council's head of Children We Care For, previously said: "If we want our cared for children to grow up in stable, nurturing family homes, we need a fostering offer that is clear, fair and strong enough to support and retain carers."

He said Portsmouth "is not immune" to the national decline in foster carers and admitted the authority continues to face recruitment challenges.

The scarcity of carers could mean some children are placed in homes that are not the right fit, further from their local communities or separated from their siblings.

The new council-approved funding will include a new payment level for carers looking after children with complex histories through the council's Therapeutic Fostering Hub, as well as revised payments for Mockingbird Home Hub carers after feedback suggested the previous system discouraged participation.

The updated policy also introduces clearer guidance on financial support for school trips, driving lessons and Disability Living Allowance, while setting out responsibilities around insurance and providing additional payments to help meet the costs of caring for children with Afro-textured hair.

Council officers estimate the package will cost around £1.1 million, with the funding expected to be met from within the authority's existing budget. Mr Jowett said foster carers would continue to receive at least the national minimum fostering allowance, in line with statutory guidance.

Councillor Nick Dorrington, cabinet member for children, families and education, said: "It gives me great joy that we're constantly looking at this stuff and that we're asking the questions of our foster carers."

Councillor Roz Chadd, Hampshire County Council’s executive lead member for children’s services, said: “Although we are waiting for detail on the funding, we welcome the news of investment in expanding regional fostering recruitment hubs. This will strengthen collaborative working between local authorities and is a positive step towards attracting and supporting more foster carers.”

The package forms part of the council's wider efforts to strengthen foster care provision at a time when more families are needed to provide safe and stable homes for children across Portsmouth.

The new funding comes after the government announced a cash injection of £12.4 million as part of the new Fostering Innovation Fund to make foster care more accessible and inclusive.

The financial boost is part of the Fostering Action Plan which aims to create 10,000 foster care places, with the modernisation of the recruitment process a key element of the roadmap.

Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister said: “Every child deserves the chance to grow up in a safe and loving home, and I’ve been truly inspired by the foster carers I have met who make that happen.

“This investment will help us bring fostering into the 21st century, moving on from outdated assumptions about who can foster and how care should be offered and opening it up to a wider range of people.”

To be an eligible foster carer:

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Have a legal right to work or live in the UK
• Possess a spare bedroom
• Pass a background check
• Live in the UK

For more information about fostering in Portsmouth, call 0300 131 2797 or email [email protected].

To get involved in fostering in Hampshire, call 0300 131 2797 or email [email protected].

For more information about the government’s Fostering Action Plan, click here.

For more information about The News’ Fostering a Better Future campaign, click here.