Urgent plea for foster carers issued by Council leader

During a visit to Swindon Designer Outlet, Councillor Robbins, who is himself a former foster carer, highlighted the vital role foster carers play in helping children in care remain close to their homes, schools and communities.

A display of 130 empty draw-string bags were placed at the shopping centre to represent the 130 children from Swindon currently living more than 20 miles away due to a shortage of local foster carers.

Speaking at the event, Councillor Robbins said: “We urgently need more foster carers in Swindon. When children are placed far away, they lose the day‑to‑day connections that help them feel rooted and secure including their family, their friends, their school and their sense of belonging.

“Today’s display is a stark reminder that every one of these children deserves the chance to grow up in the place they call home. As someone who has fostered, I know how utterly life‑changing it can be for a child as well as for the adults who support them. If you can offer a safe, stable and loving home, I’m asking you to come forward and talk to our team. You can make an extraordinary difference.”

Young people who are placed outside of the Borough end up missing out on vital connections that help them thrive, including family, friends, school and a sense of belonging. The Council also has to place them in expensive care arrangements at a time when the local authority’s finances are already under significant stress.

As of January 2026, the Council was caring for 346 children, supported by a cohort of only 73 foster carers. As a result, 37 per cent of children in care are placed outside the Borough, simply because there are not enough local foster carers available.

Shoppers at the event were able to speak with Swindon‑based foster carers and the Council’s fostering team to learn more about the support, training and guidance available to anyone considering the rewarding and life‑changing journey of becoming a foster carer.

Local foster carer, Sean, said: “For somebody who works for the local authority, I became a foster carer because of how many of our children and young adults are placed out of county due to no fault of their own but the limited placements available in Swindon. Therefore, me and my wife decided that we wanted to give back and support the children and young adults of Swindon, giving them the opportunity to stay as close to friends and family as possible.

“Fostering is a very rewarding and meaningful thing. Seeing the support and guidance you can give a child that has experienced trauma and giving them the opportunities that may not have had in the past is something that will last with you forever.

“I have seen the amazing work that social workers do to support our young people and children and I have felt very supported along the way when taking a child into my home. I highly recommend fostering Swindon Borough Council.”

The Council is seeking carers from all backgrounds who can provide a safe, nurturing home for local children and young people, ensuring they can remain in Swindon rather than having to move out of the Borough to receive the care they need.

Anyone interested in fostering can have an informal chat with the team by searching ‘fostering’ on the Council’s website.