Fostering roadshow heads for St Helens this October
Residents in Cheshire and Merseyside interested in fostering are being invited to come along to any one of the eight fostering roadshow events taking place throughout October where they will have an opportunity to meet with the friendly Foster4 team and learn more about fostering for their local authority.
Article date: 30 September 2025
Foster4 is a collaboration between nine local authorities in Cheshire and Merseyside: Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington and Wirral.
With over 5,000 children currently in care across the nine local authorities but just over 1,200 approved local authority foster carers available, there is an urgent need to recruit new foster carers for the most vulnerable children in our region.
The Foster4 fostering roadshow events will take place on board the fostering bus, a specially converted double decker bus. Interviews with foster carers will be showcased on a large built-in screen on the side of the bus making it easy for people to stop and find out how fostering could make a huge difference to not only your own but the lives of children from our community. The Foster4 team will be there to answer any questions and will be chatting to people about the support they can expect from their Local Authority Fostering Services. There will also be an opportunity to meet Foster Carers who will share their experiences and answer any questions.
The events will be held throughout October from 10am-5pm on:
4th October - Prescot Tesco, L34 5NQ
5th October - St Helens Tesco, WA9 5DT
11th October - Croft Retail Park, CH62 3PN (Located in front of JD Sports)
12th October - Liverpool City Centre, Church Street (Located near Primark)
18th October - J9 Retail Warrington, WA2 8TW
19th October - Runcorn Asda, WA8 5AZ
24th October - Barons Quay, Northwich CW9 5LG
25th October - Macclesfield Leisure Centre, SK10 4AF
Councillor Nova Charlton, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said:
"We are looking forward to welcoming the Foster4 Roadshow to our borough as recruiting new foster carers remains a priority for us in St Helens. One of our greatest needs being for foster carers who could provide a safe and loving home for sibling groups, older children, and children with additional needs. We hope by holding this series of events that people come along and chat to some of our fostering families who come from a wide range of backgrounds, but all have one thing in common - their desire to provide a safe and loving home for some of the most vulnerable children in our community.
"We understand that fostering is a really big decision for people to make, but we offer excellent support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offer financial allowances in recognition of the loving homes foster carers provide for the children they care for.
"Fostering really can change a child's life. Foster carers offer supportive, caring and safe homes to children when they need it most. It's a hugely rewarding role. I would encourage anyone who's been thinking about fostering to come along to the event to find out more."
In St Helens Borough, there are currently more than 430 children and young people in the care of the council. If you have space in your home - and in your heart - please consider becoming a foster carer.
To foster a child, you need to be 21 years or over and be able to provide a supportive, safe, and loving home, while also having the time and patience to dedicate to the children that you care for. Foster carers are needed from all backgrounds, including from the LGBTQ+ community, single people, couples, people who own their home or rent.
If you feel you could make a difference to a child's life, contact our dedicated regional support hub Foster4 visit www.foster4.co.uk or call 03456460098.