Thinking about becoming a foster carer in Yorkshire or the Humber? This page brings together independent fostering agencies working across Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Hull, York, Wakefield, Doncaster, and the wider region, so you can find the right match for your family.
Children Who Need Foster Carers Across Yorkshire
Yorkshire and the Humber has the fourth highest rate of children in care of any English region. The rate of children in care in Yorkshire and the Humber is significantly above the national average, following the North East, North West, and West Midlands. That reflects the pressures faced by families across the region and the ongoing need for more people to come forward as foster carers.
The cities of Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, and Hull each have significant numbers of children in the care system at any one time. But the need extends well beyond the cities. Children in smaller towns and rural communities across North Yorkshire, the East Riding, and the Humber also need local foster placements, and local carers are always preferred where possible.
Independent Agencies vs the Local Authority – What is the Difference?
When you contact a fostering agency in Yorkshire, you will quickly realise you have two main options: fostering through your local council or fostering through an independent agency. Both are regulated by Ofsted. Both make a difference.
Independent fostering agencies typically offer more personalised support, higher allowances, and a supervising social worker who carries fewer cases. 85% of IFA households are approved for more than one type of foster care, compared to 45% of local authority households, which gives you more flexibility as your experience grows.
Local authority fostering tends to focus on children from the immediate area. If staying close to home matters to you, this can be an advantage.
Support for Foster Carers in Yorkshire
The best agencies in Yorkshire provide support that goes well beyond the basics. Before you are approved, you will go through Skills to Foster training, which covers child development, attachment, behaviour, and self-care. After approval, that training continues through workshops, online learning, and peer support groups.
A good supervising social worker in this region will visit you regularly, not just when things go wrong. They will know your household, understand the children placed with you, and be available when you need to talk. Out-of-hours support matters too. Fostering does not stop at 5pm, and neither should your agency.
Am I in the Right Position to Foster?
You might be surprised by how flexible the eligibility criteria are. You do not need to own your home. You do not need to be in a couple. You do not need previous childcare experience. You do need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom available for a foster child, and have the right to live and work in the UK.
Single people, retired people, and people who work part-time all foster successfully across Yorkshire. What agencies are really looking for is stability, warmth, and a genuine commitment to a child's wellbeing.
Types of Fostering Across Yorkshire and the Humber
Yorkshire agencies cover a wide range of fostering types. Short-term fostering is the most common starting point, covering placements of weeks or months. Long-term fostering provides a permanent family home for a child who cannot return to their birth family. Emergency fostering means being ready to take a child at very short notice.
Short breaks fostering, sometimes called respite, lets you offer a regular break to another foster family while providing a child with a familiar, consistent face. Parent and child fostering supports a young parent alongside their baby. Therapeutic fostering is a more specialist route for children with significant emotional or behavioural needs, and tends to come with higher allowances and more intensive support.
Using This Page
The agencies listed below all work in Yorkshire and the Humber. You can compare their ratings, the types of fostering they offer, and how to get in touch. Most agencies will talk to you informally before you make any commitment. Take the time to ask questions, and choose the one that feels right.