Our children who need fostering

Every 20 minutes, a child needs a foster family in the UK.

Many children who need fostering come into care in Bristol each year. Whether they're babies, teenagers, a sibling group, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASCs), or children with additional needs, each child deserves the chance to feel safe, like they belong and can thrive. Foster carers play a vital role in making this possible.

Why children come into care

The reasons children and young people come into care are as diverse as the children themselves. Many children in foster care have had traumatic experiences and may feel lonely, afraid or confused. This might make them behave in ways you're not used to or expecting. They may have been affected by:

• family breakdown or conflict
• a parent's short-term illness or hospitalisation
• exposure to domestic violence
• drug or alcohol misuse in the home
• neglect or abuse
• loss of a parent or caregiver

Children can come into care at any age. Some may stay for a short time, others may need a loving and safe home until they're ready to live independently. Some children might get upset and worried when they move away from the home they've always known into a new house. They'll need support and love to help them settle.

Each child's story is unique. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and face different challenges. They all, however, share one thing in common: the need for a safe, stable, supportive, loving home.

In this section you can find information about the different children you could be caring for if you decide to become one of our Bristol foster carers. We also talk about the unique challenges and rewards that come with fostering children of different ages, backgrounds, cultures and life circumstances.