becoming a foster carer
financial support and benefits
how we support you
We’re here to support you. That means we’ll do everything we can to help you provide a stable and loving home for a foster child.
Even before a child arrives, Foster Wales provides in-depth guidance and training to make sure fostering is the right fit for you and your family. But the support doesn’t end there.
Once you are fostering a child, we offer :
- ongoing guidance from a dedicated social worker
- fostering pay to cover essential living costs
- a community of local fostering families who can share experience
- friendship and social events
- among many more benefits.
It’s important to consider all of the local benefits for a better understanding, before comparing foster carer payments.
Read on to learn more about the fostering support and rewards we offer.
foster care allowance
do foster carers get paid?
Yes, foster carers receive a payment to cover the costs of caring for a child. This amount will vary based on many factors, including
- how many children you foster,
- what age the children are
- where you live in Wales,
- and how long you’ve fostered for.
However, being a foster carer isn’t a conventional job. It doesn’t fit into a box. It’s home-based 24-7 skilled vocation which we support you financially to do.
For more answers to your questions on foster carer pay check out our blog: foster carer pay (the ultimate guide!)
At Foster Wales we care about children receiving everything they need to thrive, so we split the payment into 3 parts; the weekly child allowance + the carer’s fee + additional payments.
child’s allowance
foster carer’s fee
additional payments
how we talk about money
As an organisation, we don’t make a profit from the work we do. We never have, and never will. All the funding we receive directly supports the children in our care and the foster carers who care for them. We also hold direct discussions with Welsh Government on our community’s behalf regarding financial support to foster carers.
Children and young people tell us that the way we talk about money in fostering is important to them, so we listen.
our commitment to you
Every Local Authority in Wales has signed up to what we call the ‘National Commitment’. This is an agreed package of training, support, and rewards enjoyed by every one of our foster carers in Wales.
local fostering team
You’re not out there on your own. You have a team to support and encourage you, every step of the way.
Support is available at any time – not just inside office hours. We’re dedicated to working as a team with our foster carers, and that means we provide support 24/7. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. We’ll be there.
dedicated supervising social worker
You’ll have skilled and experienced professional social workers on hand, with a fostering team member dedicated to supporting you, your family and your network.
Your Foster Wales team are part of the local authority, working alongside the child’s social worker with direct access to information about the child and other social services departments.
peer support
You’ll also be invited to events and activities throughout the year, designed to bring you closer to other foster families. To give you new experiences, new friendships, and new memories. You’ll also meet experienced foster carers who can offer a listening ear and give you advice.
more questions on financial support?
In total, combining all elements of the payment together, local authority foster carers with Foster Wales typically receive on average around £400 a week. For a more exact figure, please get in touch with your local friendly team.
other rewards and benefits
Beyond giving a child a safe and loving home, there is a whole host of other rewards for fostering in Wales with us, including:
Discounts – Foster carers can apply for a Blue Light Card which grants online savings and high street discounts with thousands of retailers.
Cadw membership – You’ll get a free Cadw membership which gives free entry for the whole family to historic venues and country parks across Wales.
New Family Social membership – For anyone seeking LGBTQ+ specific support, you’ll get New Family Social membership for events, peer support, and an active online community
AFKA Cymru membership – When you join Foster Wales, you’ll get membership to the Association for Fostering, Kinship and Adoption (AFKA) Cymru. This membership includes workshops, training, forums, and more.
The Fostering Network membership – You’ll also get membership to access The Fostering Network’s independent support lines, tax training and legal advice, as well as its own online community and discounts.
Additional local offers – Beyond the typical fostering payment and these nationwide rewards, many local authorities provide additional benefits. For example, local leisure centre passes, parking permits, council tax discounts and more.
Please speak to your local authority for more information on the specific benefits in your area.
why choose us?
There are more benefits to fostering with your local authority; access to local knowledge and resources, the convenience of a dedicated team nearby, a local community of foster carers and helping local children to stay local. Read more about why choose us.
Still not sure whether fostering with us is right for you and your family? Then read our blog: Ten reasons to foster with your local authority
