Fostering

There are over 700 children in care in Bristol. Many of these children need to stay with foster families, whilst they are unable to live at home.

But a national shortage of foster carers means we are struggling to find enough carers who can reflect all of our children’s backgrounds.

We urgently need more people to come forward, from all walks of life, so that we can make successful placements within Bristol and the surrounding areas.

If you think that you could foster a Bristol child, please use the links on this page to get in touch with the Family Placement Recruitment Team.

Find out about fostering - displays and events

During Fostering Fortnight - 14 to 25 May we will have displays at ASDA:

• Monday 14 May @ ASDA Bedminster
• Tuesday 15 May @ ASDA Eastgate
• Wednesday 16 May @ ASDA Longwell Green (pm only)
• Monday 21 May @ ASDA Patchway
• Tuesday 22 May @ ASDA Whitchurch
• Wednesday 23  May @ ASDA Bedminster (pm only)
• Thursday 24 May @ ASDA Longwell Green
• Friday 25 May @ ASDA Eastgate.

Or come and see us at:

• Bradley Stoke Community Festival - Saturday 2 June, 11.30 - 5.30, Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road
• Yate Community Festival, Kingsgate Park - Saturday 23rd June
• Pride (LGBT Festival) - Saturday 14 July, 12-5pm, College Green.

Short films of Bristol foster carers

What is the difference between fostering and adoption?

Foster carers share the responsibility for the child with a local authority and the child's parents. Fostering is usually a temporary arrangement, though sometimes foster care may be the plan until the child grows up.

Adoption is a way of providing a new family for children who cannot be brought up by their own parents. It's a legal procedure in which all the parental responsibility is transferred to the adopters.

Once an adoption order has been granted it can't be reversed except in extremely rare circumstances. An adopted child loses all legal ties with their first mother and father (the "birth parents") and becomes a full member of the new family, usually taking the family's name.