To all our amazing foster carers – past, present and future – Thank You!

We’re today sending a huge thank you to everyone in the city who gives a child a loving home through fostering. 

And we’re also calling on more local people to consider becoming foster carers to give a young person the best possible chance in life. 

The request comes as national organisation The Fostering Network launches its annual Foster Care Fortnight campaign which runs from today (Mon 9 May). 

The theme for this year’s campaign is #FosteringCommunities as local foster carers enable children to stay within their community and be close to everything they’re already familiar with. 

200+ children cared for by 150 foster families

Currently, there are more than 200 children living with around 150 foster families in the city through our not-for-profit fostering service. However, there is an ongoing urgent need for more foster carers. 

Fostering is a fantastic way of giving children and young people a home when they are unable to live with their birth family.  

Many of these children have experienced abuse or neglect prior to coming into care, and fostering is often their first positive experience of family life.

Aloyse just loves fostering

Brighton foster carer Aloyse Gascoigne has been fostering for just under five years and says she “loves it”. 

Aloyse added: “We’ve been lucky enough to have a wide range of experiences from emergency one-night stays, to caring for siblings, from UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children) to respite care, then long term and now permanency.  

“There is a wide range of training and opportunities, both for the foster carers and for our young people.  

“The children have been able to attend Bushcraft days, painting pots, cinema trips, bowling and pizza trips too.

The best carers support our young people 

“The support, training and opportunities Brighton & Hove City Council offers enables us to be the very best foster carers we can be and in turn to best support the young people in our care.  

“Watching the children grow in confidence, strength, ability and flourish is the best reward any of us could ask for.  

“It really is the most rewarding adventure!” 

We welcome interest in fostering from all sections of our diverse community, regardless of your marital status, race, disability, sexuality or gender. 

'Thank you for everything you do'

Councillor Zoe John, chair of the council’s Corporate Parenting Board, said: “We want to thank our foster carers for everything they do for our children in care. 

“By supporting each other and working together as a team, our fostering community makes sure that our children can grow up locally and safe, in a nurturing and loving environment, to reach their full potential. 

“But we need more people to come forward to foster if we want to make sure our children can stay local and be cared for in their community. 

‘If you have the space in your home and your heart, and the skills needed to help children thrive, please contact our fostering team.” 

Interested in fostering? 

For further information about fostering for Brighton & Hove City Council, please: