sign in

Foster carers in England are subsidising the state, says new survey

09 October 2007

Too many foster carers are subsidising the state, according to a new survey launched today, 9 October, by leading charity the Fostering Network.

The survey, which analyses the fostering allowances paid by 150 local authorities in England, found that thousands of foster carers do not receive enough to cover the full costs of fostering. As a result many foster carers have to dip into their own funds to provide a child with the things they need.

The allowance is a sum of money intended to cover the full costs of caring for a foster child and pay for everything from nappies and food to clothes, outings and birthday presents.

The survey results show that over half of all local authorities in England are not paying the Fostering Network’s recommended minimum allowances. The charity argues that the minimum required to care for a foster child should start from £118.60 per week for children under four years old and go to £168.18 for a teenager.

While the Government set the rates for its own national minimum allowances eighteen months ago at £102.00 for a child under four and £151.00 for a teenager, 17 local authorities are failing even to meet this amount.

Robert Tapsfield, the Fostering Network’s chief executive, said:

“The national minimum allowance introduced by the Government is a step in the right direction but it is no use if local authorities are not even paying it.

“It is shocking that so many local authorities are still not paying their foster carers an allowance that covers the full costs of fostering. It is even more appalling that 17 local authorities are not paying the Government’s national minimum allowance. Foster carers are still having to dip into their own pockets to subsidise the state. Is it surprising that there is still a shortage of foster carers?

“Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced his support for foster carers in his speech to the Labour Party conference. We are now calling on him to prove his support for foster carers by bringing the minimum allowance in line with the Fostering Network’s recommended rates and making payment of it compulsory."

Download the report: Foster Care Allowances and Fee Payments in England (PDF).

For media enquiries or to arrange interviews with a spokesperson or case study contact Becca Bryant or Naomi Westland at the Fostering Network on 020 7620 6437/6441 or email media@fostering.net.

Download Word document, 31 kB

Notes to Editors

  1. The national minimum allowance was introduced in 2006 following the 2004 Children Act. The Fostering Network believes that the national minimum allowance rates are too low. The charity’s own recommended minimum allowance, based on figures from the Government’s Expenditure and Food Survey, has for years been widely recognised as the lowest acceptable level needed to cover the costs incurred as the result of fostering.
  2. Allowances should cover pocket money, clothing, food, school uniforms/equipment, an amount towards holidays, birthdays and religious/cultural festivals. The Government’s national minimum allowance does not cover additional transport or housing costs. Fee payment is remuneration for the time and skills of the foster carer, like a salary.
  3. There are just over 50,000 children and young people in foster placements in the UK on any given day.
  4. The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading charity for all those involved in fostering, and exists to ensure that all fostered children receive the highest standards of care.