What is buddy fostering?

A buddy foster carer is someone who cares for a child for short, regular periods of time. They become a trusted and valued extension of a fostering family’s support network, giving both the child and their main foster carer a planned break.

Buddy fostering is all about building relationships, providing stability, and making sure children feel safe and supported - even when they’re having a short stay away from home.

What does buddy fostering look like?

As a buddy foster carer, you’ll usually commit to:

• at least one weekend a month
• one week during the summer holidays

You’ll typically support one family so you can build a strong, consistent relationship with them.

Some buddy carers choose to support several families - for example, caring for different children on different weekends - while others prefer to support just one family each month. It’s flexible and designed to fit around your availability and lifestyle.

The child’s main foster carer will work closely with you. They’ll provide everything needed for the stay (like clothes, bedding and special toys) and share routines and important information so the child feels settled and secure.

Who can be a buddy foster carer?

You don’t need to be a full-time foster carer to become a buddy foster carer. It’s a great option for people who:

• work full-time
• have other commitments
• want to make a difference but can’t foster full-time

Many buddy carers bring something special to the role. For example, one of our buddy carers loves sport and enjoys active weekends with the child who stays with him - something that the main foster carer doesn’t get to do as much. Everyone has something unique to offer.

Why is buddy fostering so important?

Just like any parent, foster carers sometimes need a planned break. But for a child who may already have experienced disruption, staying with someone completely new can feel unsettling.

Buddy fostering prevents that.

Because the child builds a trusted relationship with their buddy carer, their stays feel reassuring and familiar. It’s more like a sleepover with extended family or friends than a move to a stranger’s house.

That sense of stability, trust and continuity makes a real difference - helping children feel safe, valued and cared for every step of the way.

Fostering children with disabilities

Hear from some buddy foster carers about fostering children with disabilities, which allows them to build a continued bond with one child or young person and family.