This January, Team Fostering celebrates almost two decades of putting children first – providing safe, high quality, family based care for children who are looked after by the local authority. On the 31st of January 2001, we approved our very first foster family in the North East, and 19 years on, we’re just as committed to investing in children’s futures.

Team Fostering was established by Peter Richardson and Walter Young. After years of working in the fostering sector, they shared the belief that independent fostering agencies should not make a profit from children and young people in care. At a time when many agencies were doing just that, Peter and Walter took a leap of faith and created Team Fostering.

From a single base in the North East, the agency has now expanded to operate from 5 offices across the country, including Yorkshire and East Midlands. Many of our staff and carers have been with us since the very start, fully invested in the ethical aims of Team Fostering.

As Allison, one of our first foster carers explains; ‘We never thought the agency would become as big. Team began as a small group with big dreams to provide quality care to children and young people as a not-for-profit agency. Fostering has continued to change since the agency began and Team have adapted during the years to take on those changes but still provide the best possible service to the children.’

Team Fostering are delighted to work with a wide community of staff and foster carers who believe in supporting children and young people to develop exciting, optimistic lives beyond care, and remain committed to providing this service for many more families in the future. 

If you’re interested in fostering for a not-for-profit fostering agency, Team Fostering provides training, support, fees and allowances to help you flourish in your role. 

You can speak with us about training as a foster carer, or transferring to us from another agency, in any of the following ways: