BFCA Community

Voice Matters

The Black Foster Carers Alliance (BFCA) is a national support group led by and for foster carers and those exploring the journey into fostering. We provide culturally grounded support, peer-led advice, and a sense of community for carers from the Global Majority. Stay connected through our WhatsApp support group and join our bi-monthly online community meetings where members share insights, access expert guidance, and build lasting connections.

Our Social Workers – Join the Movement

Are you a qualified freelance social worker with a passion for equity in foster care?

Our team of experienced social workers, located across England, delivers training, conducts Standard of Care investigations, provides advocacy support, and completes assessments for potential carers—with a special focus on carers from Black and other Global Majority backgrounds.

This is more than work—it’s a movement for change. Help shape inclusive services, amplify community voices, and increase the recruitment and retention of Black and minority ethnic foster carers in your region.

Apply to join our freelance team and create lasting impact where it matters most.

Working with the Black Foster Carers Alliance has been both purposeful and professionally rewarding. The project offered not just freelance opportunities, but also supervision and peer support, which is rare when working independently. It’s been empowering to contribute to a mission that actively addresses the underrepresentation of Black and Global Majority foster carers. Every piece of work feels like it matters.
Angela M.
Independent Social Worker

Our Mentors – Cultural Anchors for Children

The BFCA Cultural Mentors are trained community members who walk alongside children in care and their carers, offering culturally relevant support that nurtures identity, confidence, and belonging.

Our mentors provide:

  • 1:1 cultural guidance and support for children in transracial placements
  • Practical support for foster carers navigating unfamiliar cultural practices
  • Opportunities for children to explore heritage, traditions, language, and history
  • Consistent mentorship that promotes stability, resilience, and wellbeing
As a previous foster carer and someone who worked in the mental health sector for over 20 years, becoming a Cultural Mentor was both refreshing and fulfilling. It gave me the chance to use my skills in a meaningful way while simply being a friendly ear to young people who need it most.”
David
BFCA Cultural Mentor

Our Project – Cultural Mentor Schemen

Launched as a pilot in March 2025, our Cultural Mentor Scheme is a UK-first initiative designed to bring community connection into the heart of foster care.

The scheme supports children in transracial or cross-cultural placements, as well as their carers, helping to:

  • Reduce placement breakdown
  • Build stronger cultural awareness
  • Improve mental health and sense of identity in looked-after children
  • Support carers with culturally relevant knowledge and practical tools
  • Global Learning, Local Impact

From Autumn 2025, our CEO Rachel Cole, a Churchill Fellowship recipient, will expand the project by visiting Ghana, Atlanta (USA), and the Netherlands. She will explore global best practices in:

  • Kinship care
  • Mentorship frameworks
  • Long-term stability in transracial fostering

This learning will shape the next phase of the Cultural Mentor Scheme, developing it into a nationally recognised programme that works in harmony with local authorities and independent fostering agencies.

Partner with us to embed cultural mentorship in your fostering services.

Targeted Recruitment & Retention Initiative

We’re actively working with fostering organisations across the UK to recruit, assess, and support foster carers from Global Majority backgrounds.

Why it works:

  • We understand cultural barriers and help organisations overcome them
  • We provide support before, during, and after approval to ensure carers thrive
  • Our approach builds trust, representation, and long-term retention

Our recruitment strategy is data-led, community-focused, and informed by lived experience. We work closely with local authorities and IFAs to bridge gaps and build stronger fostering communities.

👉 Are you struggling to recruit diverse carers? Let BFCA be your trusted partner.

Ready to Get Involved?

Whether you’re a carer, social worker, community leader, or organisation, there’s a place for you in the BFCA Community.

  • Join our support network
  • Become a mentor
  • Work with us as a freelance social worker
  • Partner with us on recruitment or mentorship projects
Our Allies

Make a real impact in the fostering community with BFCA!

If you’re passionate about supporting carers and fostering organisations, send your CV and cover letter to. For current openings, visit our job listings.

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