Foster carers have called for more support to help with the cost-of-living crisis and warned an impending shortage of carers is likely to be ‘financially ruinous’ for local authorities.
TACT, the UK’s largest dedicated fostering charity, said that foster carers are being forced to subsidise the care they provide because Government allowances have not increased in line with inflation for almost 20 years.
The charity warned that if foster carers are forced to stop fostering then more children will go to residential care, which costs on average £3,000 a week more to the UK taxpayer.
TACT said that councils will face cost increases of 300%-400%.
Andy Elvin, TACT CEO, said: ‘The COVID crisis demonstrated that fostering is pandemic proof and with the right support in place it can also be recession proof. So it is actually an excellent choice of vocation in these difficult times, but there needs to be more Government investment.
‘Fostering is hugely rewarding on a personal level, helping vulnerable children and young people, and there is great demand for carers across the UK.’
