The Fostering Network

Analysis

The Fostering Network is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 1980, 46 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes and education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01507277). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Fostering Network reported income of £9.4m and spending of £8.0m, spending 85% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £6.4m to £9.4m (+46%), an average of +9.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 22%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Fostering Network sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Gatehouse Educational Trust Limited (£9.3m), Hoe Bridge School Limited (£9.4m) and Caldicott Trust Limited (£9.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 96%, donations and legacies 1.7%, trading 1.0% and investments 1.0%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.2%. Reserves of £277k would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate. It employed 100 people.