Forget everything you think a foster carer looks like. Because chances are, you’ve pictured someone who’s not you.
And that’s the problem. The truth is, Hull doesn’t need a one-size-fits-all foster carer. Hull needs you. Yes, you with the full-time job. You with grown-up kids. You renting. You who thought, “They’d never pick someone like me.”
At Hull Fostering, we know children come from every kind of background - so our foster carers should too. There is no “standard issue” foster carer. And if there was, we wouldn't be as successful matching our carers to our wonderfully unique children and young people.
Meet ‘Out of the Box’ Barbie and Ken - the foster carers you never saw coming
Take Barbie, for instance. Not the high-heeled one with the dream house. We’re talking about Weekend Foster Carer Barbie - she works in a supermarket, lives with her teenage daughter, and uses her weekends to give children somewhere calm to stay when life’s been a bit too much. She’s straight-talking, warm, and always knows where the biscuits are
Then there’s Foster Ken - the one with the full-time job, a partner of five years, no children, and a dog named Shirley. He grew up in care himself and now offers short-term foster care because he knows how important it is to have someone in your corner - even just for a little while.
Neither of them fits a cliché. But both of them are absolutely right for fostering. And you might be too.
So what does it actually take to be a foster carer?
You don’t need a fancy house, a partner, or parenting experience. What you do need is:
- A genuine love for children and teenagers
- Patience when things get tough (because it could)
- A sense of humour that can survive cereal on the ceiling
- The ability to listen more than you speak
- And a willingness to learn - because we’re in this with you, every step of the way
Foster carers come from all walks of life - retired nurses, full-time warehouse workers, single dads, same-sex couples, empty-nesters, and people who simply care deeply.
What connects them all isn’t a lifestyle, it’s a thread that runs through them - kindness, resilience, and a steady heartbeat when a child needs calm.
And you don’t have to do it full-time to make a massive difference
- Weekend fostering: Could you offer a child or teen a safe space from Friday to Sunday, giving their regular foster carers a short break?
- Short-term fostering: Sometimes a few weeks can shape a life.
- Long-term fostering: For those ready to make children part of their forever home, even if just until adulthood.
Fostering isn’t about fixing people. It’s about showing up, creating safe space, and helping someone feel seen, heard and valued - maybe for the first time.
Hull’s children and young people deserve the best match. That could be you.
The more diverse our pool of foster carers is, the better chance we have of finding the right home for every child. Someone they can relate to. Someone they can trust. Someone who gets them.
So next time you wonder if you could be a foster carer, don’t ask yourself if you’re good enough. Ask if you’ve got room in your life and your heart. If you’ve got that - we’ve got your back.
Find out more about becoming a foster carer with Hull Fostering
Visit www.HullFostering.co.uk, drop us a message on our social media channels @HullFostering, email fostering@hullcc.gov.uk or come to one of our friendly events.
You don’t need to be perfect. Just ready.
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