Dartmoor children ‘thrive in close communities’ as national fostering pressures grow

Devon County Council (DCC) has welcomed a Government plan to recruit 10,000 new foster carers in England by 2029, as councils face ongoing shortages of foster homes across both urban and rural areas, including Dartmoor.

The plan, outlined in the Government’s Renewing Fostering report, is backed by £88 million over the next two years. 

READ NEXT: Concern raised in Devon over future of veterans’ and forces rail travel discounts

It aims to increase the number of foster carers, improve support, and reduce reliance on private foster and residential care, at a time when the number of fostering households has been falling nationally. 

In Devon, the council says approved fostering households have reduced significantly since 2020, adding pressure to place children close to their home communities.

To help address this, Devon County Council committed £2 million to its fostering service at the end of 2025. 

The funding is being used to increase financial support, expand training and development, provide access to specialist advice and wellbeing services, and introduce a council tax relief scheme for foster carers.

Councillor Richard Jefferies, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said the national focus on fostering was important for local services.

“Fostering plays a vital role in providing stable homes for children who cannot live with their families, and it is essential that carers feel supported in that role,” he said.

The Government report says increasing local authority and third-sector foster places would help more children stay closer to family, school and community networks. 

It also states that reducing the use of for-profit care could free up funding to reinvest in services for children.

Councillor Robin Julian, Devon County Council’s Member Champion for Fostering, said supporting carers remained a priority.

“Foster carers are doing an extremely important job, and it’s right that councils continue to look at how we value and support the people who step forward to care for vulnerable children,” he said.

Government figures show that in March 2025 there were 81,770 children in care in England. 

Around two thirds were living in foster homes, supported by just over 42,000 fostering households.

The Moorlander contacted Devon County Council for further details, and following a phone call with a DCC representative, the council said it was unable to provide Dartmoor-specific or rural-area fostering figures. 

DCC said releasing more detailed data could risk individuals or families being identified, and that it did not have permission to share information at that level.

A Devon County Council spokesperson did provide the following quote regarding fostering on Dartmoor and in rural areas.

“There are some challenges for foster carers in rural areas, such as transport links, but there are lots of carers in rural areas of the county, including Dartmoor, and we know children thrive in close communities with outdoor space.”

Devon County Council has also said it will continue to encourage people across the county, including rural and moorland communities, to consider fostering as part of efforts to meet local needs.