‘Shift to less altruistic society leading to a foster carer crisis’

 More than 85per cent of adults have little or no interest in becoming a foster carer, a survey has shown, amid warnings of a fostering crisis.

A poll of 4,262 adults in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales was carried out by Yougov in July for the charity Action for Children. The charity said the shortage was affecting teenagers with complex needs the hardest.

It has been exacerbated by demographic shifts which mean more foster carers over 50 are retiring.

John Egan, Action for Children’s director, said: “These figures reveal the true scale of the crisis. Across the country, we have more and more children and young people who desperately need the stability a foster carer can give them yet we have fewer and fewer foster parents.

“We think the lack of interest, in fostering teens in particular, is down to fear of the unknown as well as a shift towards a less altruistic society in general.”