Fostering in East Kent
From Canterbury to the Thanet coast and the White Cliffs of Dover, children across East Kent need a home like yours.
East Kent stretches from the cathedral city of Canterbury to the seaside towns of Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, and down the coast to Sandwich, Deal and Dover. Across all of these communities, there are children and young people who need a foster family to help them feel safe, settled and cared for.
Lighthouse Fostering is an independent agency with our Kent base in Faversham, just a short drive from Canterbury. Our local phone number, 01227 250096, reaches a team that knows East Kent well, and we arrange training, support groups and social worker visits close to where our carers live.
East Kent also plays a unique role in the UK's care system. Many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children first arrive in the country through Dover, and they need warm, patient foster carers to help them rebuild their lives. Alongside this, local children of every age, from babies to teenagers, need homes where they can stay close to their schools and friends.
We were founded by foster carers and care leavers, and we offer every carer a 12-week therapeutic parenting course. If you live anywhere in East Kent and have a spare room and room in your life for a child, call 01227 250096 or request a call back.
Do you cover Thanet?
Yes. We support foster carers throughout Thanet, including Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Birchington and Westgate-on-Sea, as well as the rest of East Kent. Your social worker will visit you at home, and training takes place locally.
What does fostering an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child involve?
These young people, usually teenagers, have arrived in the UK without a parent or carer. As their foster carer, you'll give them a safe home, help them settle into school or college, and support them through the asylum process alongside their social worker. We provide specialist training and ongoing support. Explore types of fostering.
Where is your nearest office to Canterbury?
Our Kent office is at Quayside House, Standard Quay, Faversham, a short drive from Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay. You're welcome to visit.
Fostering in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay
Whether you live in the heart of Canterbury, in a village on its outskirts, or by the sea in Whitstable or Herne Bay, you could offer a child a stable, loving home. The Canterbury district is closest to our Faversham office, making it easy to join our local support groups and training days.
Fostering in Thanet: Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs
Thanet is a close-knit coastal community with a real need for local foster families. We support carers in Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Birchington and Westgate-on-Sea, helping children stay near the schools and people they know while they're in care.
Fostering in Dover, Deal and Sandwich
From the port town of Dover to the seafront at Deal and the medieval streets of Sandwich, the Dover district is home to children who need foster carers now. Carers here receive the same close support as everywhere we work, with home visits and training within easy reach.
Caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
Many young people who arrive in the UK alone do so through East Kent. They have often made long and difficult journeys, and a foster home offers them safety, routine and the chance to be a young person again.
You don't need to speak another language or have previous experience. We'll give you specialist training, help with interpreters, and ongoing support from our team, so you can help a young person settle, learn and look to the future.