Fostering in crisis: can flexible care models fix England’s child placement shortfall?

The Guardian reports that new recruitment campaign to target adults in their 30s and 40s in bid to create 10,000 new foster care places Viennetta Basterfield, 67, spent two decades fostering more than 100 children in her west London home before she and her husband handed in the reins during Covid.

Her own mother had died when she was nine and she was brought up by another woman who took her in.

This world story centres on the United Kingdom. Names and organisations mentioned in the coverage include England, Viennetta Basterfield and London.

Why it matters

International developments of this kind are often followed closely by governments, aid organisations and global markets.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

14 Oct 2026, 04:31 IST

Key names

England, Viennetta Basterfield, London, Covid

Section

World

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianFostering in crisis: can flexible care models fix England’s child placement shortfall? 14 Oct, 04:31

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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