Foster East - Bedfordshire and Luton will provide a more joined-up and consistent approach to fostering across the three council areas.
The hub will support people from their first enquiry about fostering, through assessment, approval, training and ongoing support. This end-to-end approach is designed to make the process clearer for prospective foster carers, improve retention and help ensure foster carers feel supported throughout their fostering journey.
The new hub is part of the government’s national ambition to create 10,000 additional foster places by April 2029, helping to make sure there is a fostering placement available for every child who needs one.
Across the Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Bedford partnership area, the hub will work towards increasing total foster capacity to 478 places by 2028/29.
Foster carers provide safe, stable and loving homes for children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families. More foster carers are needed nationally and locally to help ensure children can be cared for in family-based homes, close to their communities, schools and support networks wherever possible.
Councillor Gareth Mackey, Executive Member for Children’s Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said:
This is fantastic news for children and young people across Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Bedford.
Foster carers make an incredible difference, giving children stability, care and trusted relationships when they need them most. We know there are people across our communities who could offer that support, but who may not know where to start or whether fostering is right for them.
This new hub will make that first step clearer and easier. By working together with Luton Council and Bedford Borough Council, we can provide a more joined-up service for prospective foster carers, from their first enquiry through to training, approval and ongoing support.
Councillor Umme Ali, Executive Member for Children’s Services at Luton Council, said:
I welcome the Government's commitment to creating 10,000 additional foster homes and the opportunity for us to work together to help achieve this through our new fostering hub. This investment is critically needed in Luton and across Bedfordshire, as we look to recruit and support more foster carers for children and young people who need safe, stable and loving homes.
By taking a partnership approach across the county, we can strengthen support for foster carers, increase local capacity and help more children stay connected to their schools, families and communities.
Cllr Jane Walker, Cabinet member for Valuing Families: Children’s Services, Bedford Borough Council, said:
We are always looking for more people from a wide range of backgrounds to come forward and consider fostering.
This new hub will help remove some of the uncertainty people may feel when they first enquire, by giving them clear information, practical advice and consistent support. Most importantly, it will help us provide more loving homes for children who need them.
The three councils will now continue working with the Department for Education to develop the hub and deliver its local targets.
Until the new hub is developed, any resident that is interested in fostering should visit their local authority webpage for further information:
www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/fostering