Foster carers come from all backgrounds. What’s important is your interest in caring for a child.

Who can foster?

Foster carers come from all backgrounds. You can be:
  • Single, married, divorced or living together
  • In a same sex relationship
  • Identifying as any gender
  • From any ethnic or religious background
  • A homeowner or living in rented accommodation
  • Employed or in receipt of benefits
  • Already a parent
  • Living with disabilities

Most people can be considered as foster carers, but there are some requirements:


  • Ideally, you will have a spare bedroom for the sole use of a foster child (babies aged between 0-2 can share your bedroom).
  • You must live in reasonable traveling distance to Tower Hamlets
  • You must be aged over 21
  • You must have some experience of caring for or working with children or young people
  • If you are a couple then you must be able to demonstrate your relationship is stable and are both equally committed to fostering.
  • You must not be pregnant
  • You are a British citizen or have permanent leave to remain
  • You must have no convictions for offences against children. Any other criminal history you have, may affect your ability to foster

Myth busting

  • Can I work and foster?

    YES. There are several ways of fostering and we can help you choose one that will fit in with your lifestyle. If you work and are considering fostering it is essential that your employer is flexible and you are available to attend meetings, promote contact with the birth family and be at home to care for the children or young people when required. You could also become a respite carer where you will provide short, regular periods of care such as a few days in the week, regular weekends and short breaks in the school holidays.

  • I am unemployed, does this rule me out as a foster carer?

    NO. Children benefit from having someone to care for them full-time and as a foster carer you will receive fostering allowances and other payments to cover the cost of caring for a child or young person.


  • I’m single, can I still foster?

    YES. Some children benefit from having one-to-one attention. What you will need is a committed

    support network.

  • Does a foster child need a room of their own?

    This is dependent upon the age of the child. We are looking for foster homes which provide adequate

    space to a suitable standard. Our expectation is that foster children over the age of two will have their own bedroom. You can foster if you rent or live in council or housing association accommodation.


  • I am a smoker, can I still foster?

    Currently we do not place children under-five or vulnerable children who have respiratory, heart or other medical conditions, in homes where there is a smoker (this includes the use of e-cigarettes). We prefer foster carers to not smoke as smoking is unhealthy and we will encourage you to give up.


  • I am a disabled person, can I foster?

    YES. People with disabilities do become foster carers and make a valuable contribution to fostering. As part of the approval process for all foster carers, your GP will need to verify that you are mentally and physically able to look after children and are not putting your own health at risk.


  • I have no children of my own, can I foster?

    YES. We are looking for people who like, and have a genuine interest in, caring for children and young people. You must have had some experience of caring for or working with other people’s children.


With so much on offer, what are you waiting for?
Start your fostering career now by giving us a call!

Enquire now!