New year, new career – could fostering be your resolution?

Wiltshire Council is calling on residents to make 2026 the year they change a child’s life by becoming a foster carer.

As the new year begins, many people set goals to improve their lives – but what if your resolution could help to transform someone else’s future too? Wiltshire urgently needs more foster carers to provide safe, loving homes for children and young people who cannot live with their birth families.

Fostering offers flexibility, full training, and 24/7 support. Choosing to foster with Wiltshire Council means every penny goes into frontline services, and children are more likely to stay close to their school, friends, and family networks. Carers receive weekly payments ranging from £410 to £760 per child, but the real reward is knowing you’ve made a lasting difference.

Kevin and Louise will be celebrating one year of being foster carers this March.

Looking back at the busy months they have already had as foster carers, Kevin explains: “It’s been brilliant. Really rewarding seeing them grow. We’ve been really lucky and had children who just want to be loved.”

Kevin has advice for people thinking about fostering: “It’s so rewarding. Just seeing them smile. You can make a difference in their lives. It’s just knowing you’ve kept them safe, happy, fit, and healthy.”

People interested in fostering can drop into events in the county this month or join an online session. Details of events are on the website Fostering events - Fostering with Wiltshire Council, and include

• Friday 9 January 2-5pm Melksham Community Campus SN12 6ES
• Tuesday 13 January 12noon–4pm Five Rivers Community Campus SP1 3NR
• Friday 16 January 10am–2pm Devizes Library, SN10 1DL
• Wednesday 21 January 2pm–5pm Calne Community Campus SN11 0SP
• Saturday 24 January 4pm–5pm Fostering online session Join conversation
• Wednesday 28 January 10:30am–2pm Marlborough Library, SN8 1HD
• Friday 30 January 2pm–5pm  Trowbridge Leisure Centre, BA14 0DN

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: "We’re all making our new year’s resolutions, and the start of a new year is the perfect moment to take on a challenge that truly matters. Fostering isn’t just a career – it’s a calling. Every child deserves a safe and supportive home, and you could be the person who makes that happen.

“We’re proud to already have so many amazing carers in Wiltshire, making an incredible difference in young people’s lives, but we always need more. Why wait for the ‘right time’? If you’re thinking about fostering, get in contact with us today and this time next year, you could be looking back knowing you’ve changed a child’s future."

Wiltshire Council provides comprehensive training, ongoing guidance, and a dedicated team to support foster carers every step of the way. People can be single, married, working, or retired. If people have a spare bedroom, are aged over 21 and have the time to care, they could foster. Those fostering babies up to 12 months can use their own bedroom if space allows for a cot.

More information on becoming a foster carer for your local council can be found on Fostering South West’s website, www.fosterwithyourlocalcouncil.org.uk, or you can speak directly to a member of the recruitment team via 0300 456 0120, or info@fosterwithyourlocalcouncil.org.uk.