Fostering is one of the most impactful ways you can support a child in need – offering stability, care and a safe place to live and grow. But many people don’t realise there are important differences between fostering through a non-profit organisation, like Foster for Bradford Children and Families Trust, and fostering through a private independent fostering agency.
While both play a role in supporting children, how they operate – and where money is spent – can vary significantly.
Putting children before profit
When you foster with a non-profit organisation such as Foster for Bradford, every decision is centred around the wellbeing of children. As part of Bradford Children and Families Trust, we reinvest resources directly into supporting children, carers and families across the district.
Independent fostering agencies, on the other hand, are private organisations that charge local authorities and children’s trusts thousands of pounds per week for their services, and these costs can include profit margins. This raises important ethical questions—should anyone be making any kind of profit from fostering vulnerable children? [source: Horrific, unregulated, and very profitable. The companies making cash from England’s children in care | George Monbiot | The Guardian]
While IFAs can provide valuable services, the financial burden on local authorities is overwhelming, [source 1: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-14168257/Private-equity-sharks-cash-foster-care.html
source 2: Private equity-owned Compass profits from fostering as crisis engulfs children’s care | This is Money
source 3: https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/privatisation-foster-care-children-money-equity-firms-investment/]
By choosing to foster with your local authority, you are helping ensure that more funding goes directly towards care, support services, and improving outcomes for children.
Supporting local children, strengthening local communities
Foster for Bradford is proud to care for children from across our district. That local connection matters. It allows children to stay closer to their schools, friends and communities—helping maintain important relationships and a sense of belonging.
As the largest fostering provider in the Bradford district, we offer:
- Dedicated local support teams who understand your community
- Ongoing training to help you grow in your fostering journey
- Competitive pay and benefits
- A network of fellow foster carers for peer support
Everything we do is focused on helping you provide the best possible care.
Making the best use of resources
When local authorities have to rely on independent agencies, it can place pressure on already stretched budgets. That funding could otherwise be used to support more children, expand services, or invest further in foster carers within the community.
Fostering through a non-profit model helps ensure that resources are used ethically and effectively—benefiting the children who need them most.
A life-changing experience
Fostering is not always easy, but it is incredibly rewarding. It offers the chance to make a real, lasting difference in a child’s life—helping them feel safe, valued and supported.
Many foster carers describe it as one of the most meaningful things they’ve ever done.
Could you foster for Bradford?
By choosing Foster for Bradford, you’re choosing to put children first—supporting a service that is rooted in the local community and committed to making a difference without profit.
If you’re considering fostering, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re ready to get started or just curious to learn more, our friendly team is here to help.
Together, we can keep children at the heart of every decision—and build brighter futures across Bradford.
Talk to us
You don’t need to know right now what type of fostering would suit you. We can help you decide what would suit your personal circumstances.