Foster Care in Gloucestershire
Care That Reaches Every Corner of Gloucestershire
Choosing to foster is a life-changing decision, and at Match Foster Care we are here to ensure you feel supported every step of the way. Our experienced team works with carers across the county, including Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Tewkesbury and the Forest of Dean. We believe that every child deserves a safe and stable environment, and we are proud to play a part in creating brighter futures through fostering.
Match Foster Care is committed to delivering stable, loving homes for Gloucestershire’s looked-after children – from Gloucester city to Cotswold villages.
Working alongside Gloucestershire County Council and trusted regional services, we prioritise placing children near their schools, friends, and support networks.Whether you’re based in Cheltenham, Stroud, or the Forest of Dean, you’ll benefit from responsive, local support from our Gloucestershire-based teams.
Match Foster Care in Gloucestershire
Choosing where and how to foster matters. At Match Foster Care, you benefit from an agency that understands the landscape of Gloucestershire, from the energy of Gloucester and Cheltenham to the quiet rural spaces of Tewkesbury and Cirencester.
We don’t just help you get started, we walk with you every step of the way, offering expert advice, face-to-face training, and meaningful guidance tailored to your community. We believe in matching children and carers in a way that supports long-term stability , and lifelong change.
Here’s why Gloucestershire Carers Choose Match Foster Care
- Focused Local Support
Based across Cheltenham, Stroud and Forest of Dean, our teams deliver training and regular in-person support where it matters most. - Siblings Kept Together
We help foster carers accommodate brothers and sisters together, helping children maintain strong family bonds. - Community-Centric Placements
Our matching process considers school, cultural background, support networks and routines to help children stay local. - Wraparound Guidance
From peer groups to social worker visits and practical tools, our care doesn’t stop once a child is placed, it evolves with you.
Gloucestershire continues to face growing demand for local placements. At Match, we’re here to make sure every foster family feels confident, supported, and connected to the community they’re changing.
Your Town,
Their Future
Cheltenham Foster Care
Home to one of Gloucestershire’s largest child populations, Cheltenham continues to need more foster carers. Match Foster Care supports families here with in-person visits, local training, and strong links to the community and local services.
Fostering in The Forest of Dean
Children in the Forest of Dean often face being moved far from home due to a lack of local carers. Match Foster Care helps families provide safe, consistent care that keeps children rooted in their rural communities.
Foster Care Stroud
With its strong sense of community, Stroud is a key area for local fostering. Match Foster Care offers tailored support for carers, helping children stay close to school, siblings and friends.
Cirencester Foster Caring
Families in Cirencester play a crucial role in local fostering. Match works with carers in the town and surrounding villages to offer stability for children needing safe homes near their support networks.
Foster Caring in Tewkesbury
As fostering needs grow across Tewkesbury, Match Foster Care is here to guide carers with ongoing one-to-one support, regional events, and a commitment to placing children as close to home as possible.
Why Foster in Gloucestershire?
Gloucestershire is a diverse county with thriving towns and rural communities. Sadly, there are many children who cannot live with their birth families and need a place where they can feel secure, valued and supported. By providing foster care in Gloucester and beyond, you can make a real difference to the lives of local children.
We work closely with families to ensure the right match between carer and child, offering a personalised approach that places the needs of young people at the heart of everything we do. This makes us one of the leading fostering agencies in Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire fostering secure site
Our Gloucester fostering team is based at a secure site in the county, ensuring a safe and confidential environment for training, meetings and ongoing support. This site provides a professional setting where foster carers can build their knowledge, meet others on the same journey and feel part of a supportive community.
Having a local Gloucestershire fostering secure site means you are never far from guidance, whether you are attending specialist training sessions or taking part in one-to-one support with your supervising social worker.
Working with Gloucestershire County Council fostering
At Match Foster Care, we maintain close links with Gloucestershire County Council fostering services, while operating independently to provide an alternative route for prospective carers. This partnership approach means we can provide the highest levels of care for children and ensure carers benefit from strong professional networks.
While the council retains responsibility for placing children, we work collaboratively to make sure every placement is carefully considered and that foster carers receive the right training and resources.
Support & Training For Foster Carers
We understand that fostering can be both rewarding and challenging. That is why we offer comprehensive support and training to every foster carer in Gloucestershire. From pre-approval training through to ongoing professional development, our programmes are designed to give you the skills and confidence you need.
Carers have access to 24/7 support from a dedicated supervising social worker, as well as a team of specialists who can provide advice on education, therapy and behaviour management. This is backed by regular support groups and opportunities to connect with other carers across the region.
The Fostering Process
If you are considering fostering in Gloucestershire, our team will guide you through each stage of the becoming a foster carer process. This includes initial conversations, a home visit, assessment and preparation training. Our aim is to ensure you feel fully informed and supported before welcoming a child into your care.
We offer a range of types of fostering, from short-term care and emergency placements to long-term and therapeutic fostering. Whatever your circumstances, we work with you to find the right path.
Why Choose Match Foster Care in Gloucestershire?
With an experienced and approachable team of professionals, Match Foster Care has built a strong reputation across the Midlands and beyond. Our carers consistently tell us that the personal relationships they build with our staff make all the difference.
Unlike some larger organisations, we take the time to get to know every carer and every child. This personalised approach is central to our ethos and ensures that children experience stability, consistency and care tailored to their needs.
Begin your fostering journey today
If you live in Gloucester or anywhere across Gloucestershire and are considering becoming a foster carer, Match Foster Care can provide the guidance and support you need. By choosing to foster with us, you are joining a community of carers who are committed to making a difference.
Find out more about fostering in Gloucestershire by exploring our Why Choose Match Foster Care page or by completing our enquiry form. Together, we can give children the safe and nurturing homes they deserve.
Real Stories, Real impact from the West Midlands
Voices from
Our Foster Familes
We sat down with two of our amazing Foster Parents, Kirstie and Steve to hear first hand what Fostering means for them and what it is like to be part of the Match Foster Care Family!
Kirstie & Steve
Voices from
Our Foster Familes
Being part of the Match Foster Care family has changed everything. We’ve grown closer as a family and have made a real difference in a child’s life.
The Ahmed Family
Testimonials from the West Midlands
Frequently Asked Questions
To become a foster parent, you’ll need to be a UK resident (or have indefinite leave to remain), and be able to take care of a young person full-time. To qualify, you’ll need to go through an assessment, something a local foster care agency, such a Match, can provide. During the assessment, you’ll receive training and support, designed to help you on your foster care journey.
Foster care agencies provide loving homes to children who are unable to live with their families. Short-term foster parents usually look after children while plans are made for their future. Respite or short break foster carers provide a safe place for children to stay a few nights. Long-term foster care usually means looking after young people until they become adults.
Foster parents have many of the same responsibilities as parents. They must maintain the health of their children, ensure that they go to school, be their advocates, and help children to make sense of their emotions.
Fostering with
Match Brochure
Fostering with Match Brochure
Download our Match Foster Care brochure, or fill in the form and we will deliver it to your door. Which is full of information to help you navigate the world of fostering with Match.
Ready to Foster
In the West Midlands?
Join a community of carers making a difference across the West Midlands. Whether you’re in a city flat or countryside home, there’s a child who needs someone like you.
