Become a foster carer

To become a foster carer, you need to:

• be 25 or over (in some circumstances we will consider people between 21 and 25 years old)
• have a separate spare bedroom suitable for a child or young person (unless you are fostering babies who can be accommodated in a cot in a main bedroom)
• be a full-time resident in the UK or have leave to remain
• have the time and commitment to give to a child or young person, often on a full-time basis

How to apply

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, request a fostering information pack.

Request an information pack from Foster with North East

You can also contact Foster with North East via telephone by calling 0800 917 7771 or visit the Foster with North East website for more information.

What happens next?

To find out about the next steps after you make your enquiry including the assessment, read our step-by-step guide to becoming a foster carer.

Events and information sessions

We hold a range of virtual and in-person information sessions throughout the year to help you learn more about fostering and becoming a foster carer. 

It's an opportunity to ask any questions and to meet our friendly team who will talk in more detail about:  

• what being a foster carer means
• what makes a good foster carer
• myth busters
• the journey to become a foster carer
• what to expect during the fostering assessment
• the support you will receive

Attending an information session is the first step in what could be a very exciting and rewarding decision. We hope you can join us on one of the following dates to find out more about becoming a foster carer: 

• Friday 12 July 2024 - information stand from 10am until 1pm at Tesco Extra, Durham Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3LU
• Saturday 20 July 2024 - Information stand from 10am until 2pm at the 'Going for Gold' Family Fun Day, hosted in Stockton Town Centre and Parish Gardens
• Thursday 25 July 2024 - online information session from 7pm to 8pm
• Saturday 27 July 2024 - Information stand (and proud sponsors) of the Tees Valley Pop-up Pride event taking place across Wellington Square, ARC Stockton and Stockton Globe
• Wednesday 31 July 2024 - LGBTQ+ and fostering online information and myth busting session from 7pm to 8pm   

Our online information sessions are delivered via Teams. Once you have registered you will be sent some simple instructions of how to join the call on a smart phone or tablet.

Book your place on an information session

Fostering case study

Claire and Olly have been Foster Carers with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council for over 10 years. In this video they speak about what motivated them to foster, their experience of fostering teenagers and their birth daughters share what it's like growing up in a fostering family.