Birmingham foster carer shares her experience as campaign tackles shortage of homes
It comes as the number of foster carers has dropped, while the number of looked after children has risen
Last updated 26th Oct 2026
A foster carer from Birmingham has shared her experience of providing a home for two siblings as the government launches a campaign to encourage more people to consider fostering.
Sarah Stokes, 35, and her partner have been fostering with the National Fostering Group for around a year and a half.
Their experience comes as the Department for Education reports a 12% fall in the number of approved foster carers since 2019.
The campaign is aimed at attracting adults in their 30s and 40s and challenging misconceptions about what fostering involves.
Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister said the aim was to open fostering up to ordinary people, as part of the government’s ambition to create 10,000 new foster places by 2029.
Turning spare rooms into a home
Sarah and her partner welcomed a brother and sister, aged seven and nine, two days after being approved as foster carers.
What began as a short-term placement has become a long-term arrangement.
The couple had no biological children and decided to explore fostering because they had two spare bedrooms and wanted to offer children a stable home.
Sarah said: “So basically, me and my partner have got a lot of love to give.
"But we didn't realise just how much love we would receive in return.
"And those two spare rooms, that were now once full of things that we didn't need, are now a safe haven for two children.”
Challenging misconceptions about fostering
The campaign seeks to challenge beliefs that fostering is incompatible with full-time work or requires previous childcare experience or qualifications.
Research cited in the campaign suggests two-thirds of UK adults believe they could be effective foster carers if practical barriers were removed.
For Sarah, one of the biggest misconceptions was believing she needed to know everything before becoming a foster carer.
She described receiving training and ongoing support through the National Fostering Group, with both her and her partner continuing to take courses.
The campaign highlights everyday activities, including helping with homework, sharing meals and checking in after a difficult day, as important parts of caring for children.
Seeing the difference every day
Sarah described noticing progress in the children’s everyday lives and seeing them become more comfortable being themselves.
Sarah said: “Every single day we have one of those moments where we're like: wow, this is just phenomenal."
She also described the importance of the children telling the couple they felt comfortable and regarded them as safe people.
Niketa Sanderson-Gillard, founder and CEO of Why Care, and lived experience leader Luke Rogers are among those supporting the campaign’s message about consistency and providing safe spaces for children who may have experienced trauma.
Sarah Thomas from The Fostering Network also expressed support for the campaign, highlighting the need for more foster carers to meet demand.
For anyone considering fostering, Sarah’s message is to have a conversation and take the first step towards finding out more.