The Department for Education announced a national campaign to recruit more foster carers in England, marked by an event at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday 13 October 2026. The campaign targets adults in their 30s and 40s and supports the government's stated ambition to create 10,000 new foster care places by the end of this Parliament, according to the release published on 14 October 2026.

The department said its polling found two thirds (66%) of people believe they could be a good foster carer if practical barriers were removed. It said the number of approved foster carers has fallen by 12% since 2019 while the number of children needing care has increased. The DfE is providing £88 million to reform fostering, including £12.4 million for a fostering innovation fund to trial models such as short-term respite fostering and weekend fostering. It also named 11 programmes receiving funding through that fund.

Children's Minister Josh MacAlister said thousands of children need the chance of a stable home, and described the campaign as part of a wider reset of children's social care. Rachel Cole of the Black Foster Carers Alliance, Dame Carol Homden of Coram and Mark Norbury of UnLtd also commented in support. The department said over 70% of local authorities are now part of a Fostering Hub.