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Draft:TACT Fostering

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  • Comment: In accordance with the Wikimedia Foundation's Terms of Use, I disclose that I have been paid by my employer for my contributions to this article. TACTKerry (talk) 06:05, 23 September 2026 (UTC)


TACT Fostering (The Adolescent and Children's Trust) is a registered charity (charity number 1018963)[1]and independent fostering agency operating across England, Scotland and Wales. Founded in 1993, TACT Fostering is Ofsted registered[2] and provides foster care placements, support services for foster families, and advocacy on issues affecting children in care. [3]

History

The Adolescent and Children's Trust was established in 1993 as a charitable organisation dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people in care. [4]Over the following decades, the organisation expanded from its origins in south London to provide fostering services across multiple regions of the United Kingdom. In 2023, TACT marked its 30th anniversary.  

TACT has been supported by a number of patrons and ambassadors who have promoted fostering and the welfare of children in care. One of its most prominent patrons is Lorraine Pascale, a television chef, author, and former foster child. Pascale has publicly advocated for fostering and has supported TACT's campaigns to raise awareness of foster care and encourage foster carer recruitment. She has also contributed to publications and public initiatives associated with the charity.[5]

Operations

TACT operates as a registered charity and charitable company. Its principal activity is the recruitment, training and support of foster carers who provide homes for children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families. [6]The organisation works with local authorities to arrange foster placements and support services.

Services

In addition to fostering services, TACT provides educational and wellbeing support for children in care. The organisation has developed specialist programmes including:

  • TACT Connect, a support community for care-experienced young adults.  
  • Education Service, an education service designed to support educational attainment and school engagement.  
  • Health Service, a health and wellbeing service providing therapeutic and mental health support.

Policy and advocacy

TACT campaigns on issues affecting children in care, foster carers and care leavers. The organisation contributes to policy discussions concerning the foster care system and children's social care. TACT is noted for it's work around it's 'Language That Cares'. Language That Cares is a collaborative effort led by TACT that aims to change the language of the care system. Language is a powerful tool for communication but sometimes the way that it is used in social care creates stigma and barriers for understanding. Language is power, and we want children and young people to feel empowered in their care experience.

It is a member of several sector partnerships and networks, including The Fairer Fostering Partnership,[7]which advocates for non-profit fostering provision. [8]

  • On 30th April 2025, featured in Children and Young People Now highlighting the shortage of foster homes across the UK.[9]
  • On 16th January 2024, TACT Fostering's 'Language That Cares' was featured in the Government's Research piece: How local authorities and children’s homes can achieve stability and permanence for children with complex needs. [10]
  • In 2021, Surrey County Council provided additional resources to support TACT's 'Language That Cares' document. [11]
  • In 2019, one of TACT's foster carers was featured in an article in The Guardian. [12]
  • In 2018, TACT contributed to an article in The Guardian to raise awareness of profit making independent fostering agencies in the hope to reduce use. [13]
  • In 2018, Andy Elvin, TACT's CEO, contributed to an article on what further support is needed for kinship carers. [14]
  • In 2017, TACT's CEO, Andy Elvin, wrote an article for The Guardian on why foster carers should not need worker status to receive support and protection. [15]
  • In 2016, TACT provided research and analysis on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder for The Guardian. [16]

Governance

TACT is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 1018963 and is also registered in Scotland. The organisation operates as a charitable company limited by guarantee.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "THE ADOLESCENT AND CHILDREN'S TRUST - Charity 1018963". prd-ds-register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
  2. ↑ "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Ofsted. 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2026-09-23. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  3. ↑ "Andy Elvin | The Guardian". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
  4. ↑ RPC, XML (2012-10-01). "Leading charities launch inquiry into care system". Community Care. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
  5. ↑ Kellaway, Kate (2014-09-14). "Lorraine Pascale: Model, baker, mechanic and fostering activist". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
  6. ↑ Elvin, Andy (2025-12-02). "Retention as important as recruitment in fixing foster carer decline". CYP Now. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
  7. ↑ "Children Before Profit". The Fairer Fostering Partnership. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
  8. ↑ Preston, Rob (2021-09-21). "Councils should lose responsibility for children in care to national service, says fostering charity". Community Care. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
  9. ↑ Owers, Mark (2025-04-30). "Making a foster care system to work for all". CYP Now. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
  10. ↑ "How local authorities and children's homes can achieve stability and permanence for children with complex needs". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
  11. ↑ {{Cite web |last=Surrey County Council |first=Woodhatch Place |title=Changing the language and the way we talk about children in care |url=https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/youth-voice/voice/your-preferred-language/changing-the-language |access-date=2026-09-24 |website=www.surreycc.gov.uk |publisher=Surrey County Council, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8EF. Telephone: 03456 009 009.
  12. ↑ Hall, Chris (2019-11-16). "How we live together: the foster family". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
  13. ↑ Bawden, Anna (2018-01-30). "Councils face huge bills as foster carers jump ship to private agencies". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
  14. ↑ Tickle, Louise (2018-02-22). "'Plunged into poverty': are kinship carers getting the support they need?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
  15. ↑ Elvin, Andy (2017-11-30). "Foster carers should not need worker status to get support and protection". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
  16. ↑ Andalo, Debbie (2016-02-09). "How foetal alcohol spectrum disorder affects the care system". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
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