Fostering is an immensely rewarding path, but we understand if you're apprehensive! We're happy to answer any questions you have, arrange someone to come and visit you or email some information over to you. Start the process by filling in the form below, and we'll tell you anything you'd like to know. Our website also has lots of info, so please have a look around!
​
Alternatively, you can call our office on 0800 023 4450.
​
We look forward to hearing from you!
​
Foster parents play a key role in transforming the lives of vulnerable children and young people. They give hope and a second chance to children who, otherwise, would be forgotten.
​
Children that need foster families come from all sorts of backgrounds and need fostering for a variety of reasons. That's why we need a variety of people to become foster carers, to care for the diverse needs of young people.
​
Every child has different needs and require different levels of support... And we're here 24/7 to give you all the support you need!
We are a child-focused, family run agency, and we believe that our approach and focus on support makes us stand out from other fostering agencies. Plus we have been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted since 2010!
​
We have over 25 years of experience and more than 200 foster carers looking after children and young people.
START YOUR FOSTERING JOURNEY TODAY
Being a foster care is hugely rewarding and enjoyable. Knowing that you are making a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people is really satisfying, and makes the hard work and challenges that come along the journey all the more worthwhile.
​
We’ve been foster carers with Parallel Parents since 2008. It’s not been an easy ride, but we remember the positives when things are a little rocky! We currently foster a fantastic lad who came to us when he was just six and so he has really grown up with our family. He’s fitted in perfectly and we know he’s going to do well, we reckon he’s going to be the next Ed Sheeran!
We started fostering because we wanted to give children who haven’t had a great start the chance to be part of a normal family - with the ups and downs that come with family life! Before we fostered we had some young footballers that played for our local football team living with us. Living with people from different backgrounds was fun and it was great for the development of our own children, so when that came to an end fostering seemed like a natural step.
Between myself and Trisha we had a fair bit of experience working with children and their families before we fostered. Trisha had worked for a long time in a school with disadvantaged children, and I had been a football coach for children from many different backgrounds. I closed down my engineering business to focus on fostering full time as I knew it was something I wanted to jump head first into.
As well as the boy we foster at the moment, we’ve looked after other children who have each come from different situations. Just a couple of weeks after we were approved we took in a young girl who had been neglected by her mum who stayed with us for 18 months. And we’ve had another lad who came to live with us from a children’s home. We were his fifteenth placement so we weren’t sure how long he’d end up staying with us, but he stayed until he was 18 and is still in touch with us from time to time. It’s so rewarding to know that we’ve had a part to play in both these young people’s lives, and that we’ve made a difference along the way.
As I said, fostering is a roller coaster ride, but being with Parallel Parents I know that if I need help at any time I can chat to my social worker literally any time day or night. It’s just reassuring to know that they’re always there to support our whole family. Fostering has been an amazing experience for our whole family and it’s something that I’d recommend to everyone!
HI! WE'RE TRISH & ALLEN
