This page brings together fostering agencies working across Wales, covering Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham, and communities across North Wales, South Wales, Mid Wales, and West Wales. Compare your options here before making any decisions.
Children in Care Across Wales
Wales has seen a significant rise in children in care over recent years. Wales has seen a 26% increase in the number of children in care over the last decade, with 7,208 children now looked after. That is a substantial and sustained rise that reflects growing pressures on Welsh families and a genuine shortage of foster carers across the country.
In just 12 months between April 2023 and March 2024, 2,042 children in Wales needed a foster carer. That is more than five children every single day. The need for more people to come forward in Wales is urgent, and it runs across all areas – urban, rural, Welsh-speaking, and English-speaking communities alike.
How Fostering Works in Wales
Fostering in Wales is regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales rather than Ofsted, which oversees England. This is an important distinction if you are comparing agencies across the two countries. All fostering agencies operating in Wales must be registered with Care Inspectorate Wales and undergo regular inspections.
Around 68% of children looked after in Wales are in foster care placements, making foster carers the backbone of the Welsh care system. Both local authority fostering and independent fostering agencies operate across Wales. Local authority carers make up the majority of placements, but independent agencies play a significant and growing role.
The Welsh Language and Cultural Context
Wales has a distinct cultural and linguistic identity that matters deeply to the fostering system. For Welsh-speaking children, being placed with Welsh-speaking foster families preserves language, culture, and identity in a way that English-only placements cannot.
Several agencies in Wales actively recruit Welsh-speaking carers, and this is treated as a genuine priority in Welsh Government fostering policy. If you are a Welsh speaker, this is a significant asset. If you are not, you can still foster children from Welsh-speaking communities, but agencies will be honest with you about the matching considerations involved.
Support for Foster Carers in Wales
The support framework for foster carers in Wales follows a similar structure to England. Before approval, you will complete a preparation training programme. After approval, ongoing training, supervision visits, peer support groups, and out-of-hours support should all be part of what your agency provides.
As of 2025, there are approximately 3,538 foster families in Wales, and hundreds more are needed. Welsh fostering agencies, both local authority and independent, are actively recruiting across all parts of the country.
Could You Foster in Wales?
The eligibility criteria in Wales are broadly similar to England. You need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom, and have the right to live and work in the UK. You do not need to own your home, be in a couple, or have previous childcare experience.
Wales has a strong tradition of community and neighbourliness. Many of the best foster carers here are people who have raised families, supported communities, and know what it means to be there for a child who needs stability.
Types of Fostering in Wales
Short-term fostering covers placements while longer-term decisions are made. Long-term fostering provides a permanent family home. Emergency fostering requires same-day availability. Short breaks fostering provides regular, planned care for another foster family's child. Parent and child fostering supports young parents alongside their babies. Therapeutic fostering is a specialist route for children with more complex needs.
Finding an Agency in Wales
The agencies below all operate in Wales. Compare their inspection ratings, the areas they cover, and their support offer. If you are based in a Welsh-speaking area, it is worth asking agencies directly about their Welsh-language provision.