A pioneering fostering recruitment and retention campaign led by Fostering NEL has received national recognition after being shortlisted for the prestigious Children in Care Award at the Children & Young People Now Awards 2026.
North East Lincolnshire has also been shortlisted in the Workforce Development Award category, recognising its commitment to developing and strengthening the children’s workforce.
The Children in Care Award nomination recognises Fostering NEL’s innovative approach to recruiting foster carers, strengthening local support networks and improving outcomes for children and young people across North East Lincolnshire.
The recognition celebrates the success of a community-wide fostering strategy that has brought together local businesses, schools, foster carers and partner organisations to create one of the region’s largest Foster Friendly Communities.
More than 219 businesses and 47 schools have signed up to support fostering in North East Lincolnshire, helping to raise awareness, champion foster carers and provide practical support for fostering families and children in care.
As part of the initiative, local organisations have offered a wide range of support, including workplace flexibility for foster carers, free services, discounts, work experience opportunities, apprenticeships and community donations.
The campaign has also delivered significant improvements in foster carer recruitment and retention. During 2025/26, 16 new mainstream fostering households were approved, compared with 12 over the previous two years combined. The service also recorded a net gain in foster carers for the first time in recent years.
The improvements were recognised by Ofsted during its July 2025 inspection, which stated:
“The in-house fostering service has been completely transformed in the last 19 months. This has resulted in the retention of many foster carers who were previously unsupported and at risk of leaving the service, and the increased number of carers now in assessment.”
Ofsted also highlighted that foster carers felt better supported, had access to improved training opportunities and were recognised as valued members of the professional team around children in care.
North East Lincolnshire’s second nomination came in the Workforce Development Award category. The award recognises organisations that have demonstrated excellence in developing and strengthening the children’s workforce, with North East Lincolnshire named alongside seven other finalists from across the country.
Ann-Marie Matson, director of children’s services, said:
“We’ve worked incredibly hard to raise the profile of fostering, strengthen support for our foster carers and build a community where fostering families and children feel valued and supported.
Seeing this work recognised nationally, alongside recognition for the development of our children’s workforce, is something everyone involved should be proud of.”
The success of the fostering campaign is reflected not only in recruitment figures but also in the experiences of children and foster carers.
One child told the service: “I feel safe and cared for”, while another said: “They make every day special.”
Foster carers have also been quick to praise the support available, with one commenting:
“I am loving fostering; I am so pleased to be doing this.”
Winners of the Children & Young People Now Awards 2026 will be announced later this year.
Would you like to find out more about fostering for NEL?
Call: 01472 323966
Email: fosteringandadoption@nelincs.gov.uk
Website: www.nelincs.gov.uk/fostering
ENDS
Share this article