Grant News

The Department for Education has announced that the Fostering Innovation Fund is now open for applications. The fund will support new approaches to fostering that aim to improve the lives and experiences of children in care.

At least £12.4 million is available over 2026-27 and 2027-28. This includes the cost of evaluating the funded programmes. The Department for Education does not anticipate awarding a single application of more than £500,000 to £750,000 per year.

Eligible applicants include existing Regional Care Co-operatives (RCCs) and End-to-End Fostering Hubs in England. Organisations that had applied to become an RCC or Hub when the fund launched may also apply.

Each bid must be led by an RCC or Hub. A member local authority must formally act as the lead bidder. Applications from groups of organisations are encouraged, as long as the RCC or Hub is actively involved in delivering the programme. Programmes must run for at least 12 months.

Funding can support new or existing programmes that aim to increase the number and diversity of foster carers. It can also support work to move more children from residential care into foster care where this is appropriate, reduce the number of foster placements that end earlier than planned, or approve foster carers more quickly without lowering assessment standards.

Eligible costs include staffing, training, set-up and scaling costs, equipment, support for foster families, and some digital and data improvement work. The fund cannot be used for capital works, routine RCC or Hub running costs, or increases to foster carer fees and allowances.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on 11 June 2026. Applications are expected to be assessed from mid-June to July 2026. Decisions are expected in July, programme set-up is expected to begin in August 2026, and evaluation activity is expected to start in September 2026.