Access to vehicles in the fostering home

Owning a vehicle is not an essential requirement for fostering; however, it may limit the children that can be matched to the home. Children need transport to school, to contact with birth family, to clubs, meetings and any other appointments; therefore, it would be more challenging for a family without a vehicle to meet the needs of a young child. Older children may be able to make their own way to clubs and activities. 

Sparks Fostering would also take into account the public transport in the local area of the fostering home, meaning that if the fostering family doesn’t have a vehicle and the public transport in their area is very poor (for example if they live on a farm in a rural area), it is unlikely that they would be able to meet the needs of the children looked after.

In summary, applicants who are planning to care for older children and live in an area with good public transport wouldn’t be turned down to foster if they don’t have a vehicle.