'We need to help foster carers get bigger homes'

A new scheme has been launched in Greater Manchester to encourage younger adults into fostering by helping them rent big enough homes.

Currently a quarter of people interested in fostering are rejected straight away because they do not have enough room in their house, according to data from local councils in the region.

Salford-based not-for-profit Social Adventures has set up a new agency in response to help potential foster carers find the right-sized property and support them with a deposit and the first three months of rent.

The project's Allan Madeley said it was aimed at helping into foster care people who "just don't have space in the property in which they currently live".

The organisation said it was the first time the model was being trialled in the UK and twelve new foster families would be supported in the first year.

Nationally there is a shortfall of about 6,000 foster carers and only 5% of people who apply complete the process, according to UK charity The Fostering Network.

Madeley said Home would "help support those people to find a home and... to ultimately become a foster carer".

Those behind the project said a shortage of foster carers with space was also causing particular problems for siblings because a carer would need two spare bedrooms if they were to stay together.

Scott Darragh, chief executive of Social Adventures said: "When children go into care you can have one child in foster care and another child in residential care, often spread across the country.

"So keeping siblings together is a massive part of making sure that they get positive outcomes when they leave care."

Earlier this year the government announced fostering rules would be relaxed and red tape cut to create 10,000 new places for vulnerable children in England.

It comes after reports young people are ending up in children's homes rather than being placed with foster families because of a "critical shortage" of carers.

Official figures show the number of foster carers fell from 63,890 in 2021 to 56,345 in March 2025 - a 12% drop.

Cathy Sowde, Home's registered fostering manager, said there had been a "crisis emerging in foster care" , as many foster parents are ageing while interest among younger generations has dropped off.

She said she felt this was down to the rising cost of living "never mind trying to find a bigger property".

"But we are hoping that our new innovative model will enable people who up until now have been excluded from fostering to contribute to those numbers."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.