Fostering in Stockport

Are you interested in fostering in Stockport? Join our team today and you could make a life-changing difference to a child.

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Become a foster carer in Stockport

Stockport has a growing need for foster carers. With over 300 children currently in foster placements across the borough, local families are urgently needed to provide safe, loving homes for vulnerable young people. Whether you live in Cheadle, Marple, the Heatons, Hazel Grove or Reddish, you could make a life-changing difference to a Stockport child.

By fostering locally with us, you help children stay connected to their schools, friends and community; something that makes an enormous difference during what can be an unsettling time.

Could you foster in Stockport?

Why Foster Carers Are Needed in Stockport

Stockport is part of Greater Manchester, a region where the need for foster carers continues to outpace supply. Across the borough, children enter care for many reasons – family breakdown, parental illness, neglect or abuse. What they all have in common is a need for stability, kindness and a safe place to call home.

The demand is particularly high for carers who can support:

Teenagers – older children often wait longest for placements
Sibling groups – keeping brothers and sisters together is a priority
Children with additional needs – including learning difficulties or disabilities
Emergency placements – children who need a safe home at short notice

Stockport Council has highlighted that while there are enough residential children's homes in the area, there simply aren't enough foster families. Many children from Stockport end up placed outside the borough, away from everything familiar to them. By fostering locally, you can help change that.

What Makes Stockport Special

Stockport offers a fantastic environment for fostering families. From the green spaces of Bramhall and Marple to the vibrant town centre, children placed here benefit from:

Excellent schools – Stockport has a strong network of primary and secondary schools, with good support for children in care
Community connections – local Children's Centres, youth groups and family services
Green spaces and activities – from Etherow Country Park to Woodbank Park, there's plenty for young people to explore
Good transport links – easy access to Manchester and surrounding areas for contact visits, appointments and family connections

Support for Stockport Foster Carers

When you foster with Olive Branch, you're never on your own. Our team provides:

24/7 access to an on-call social worker whenever you need it

Transferring to a foster care agency near me

Guaranteed monthly visits from your supervising social worker

Direct access to the senior management team– we're always happy to hear from our carers

Quarterly forums and community events to connect with other foster families

A dedicated child social care advocate who works directly with foster children and your family

A whole team of specialists who’ll have your back the entire time

Our carers value the fact that Olive Branch is a family. They'll ring, and no matter who answers the phone, they know who the person is.

– Olive Branch Fostering

Could You Foster in Stockport?

To become a foster carer in Stockport, you need to:

Be over 21 years old (there's no upper age limit)
Be in good physical and mental health
Have a spare bedroom in your home
Have the patience, kindness and resilience to support a young person

You don't need specific qualifications or previous experience – we provide full training. What matters most is your character: the ability to offer warmth, stability and understanding to a child who needs it.

Whether you're single, married, in a partnership, working or retired, we'd love to hear from you.