Bath & North East Somerset Council is set to invest £500,000 to fund home alterations for foster carers, helping more local children grow up in family homes.
Councillors are being asked to approve the funding to allow existing foster carers to adapt or extend their homes, removing practical barriers that can limit how many children they are able to care for.
At present, some children are living in residential children’s homes rather than with foster families. The council says supporting carers to create additional or more suitable space will help more children stay locally and, where possible, remain with siblings.
A report going before cabinet on 12 February highlights the importance of foster care in providing stability, continuity and a sense of belonging for vulnerable children.
Home adaptations could include creating extra bedrooms so brothers and sisters can stay together, providing greater independence for teenagers, or making changes to support children with disabilities or more complex needs.
Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said, “Our foster carers open their homes and their hearts to children who need safety, stability and love. By helping them make essential home alterations, we are removing practical barriers that can prevent a child from being placed locally or staying with their brothers and sisters.
“This not only leads to better outcomes for children but also helps save money in the long term. Foster care provides much better value for money and supports our commitment to prevention and early intervention.”
He added that safeguards are built into the scheme to protect the council from financial risk while supporting foster families.
Similar schemes used by other councils have shown clear benefits, including stronger foster-carer retention, more local placements and fewer placement breakdowns.
The proposal will be considered as part of the cabinet meeting on 12 February, alongside wider discussions on the council’s 2026–2027 budget and continued investment in Children’s Services.
