United Kingdom

There are approximately 85,000 'looked after' children in the UK – that is children that are in the care system. Many will have suffered neglect or abuse; all will experience the trauma of loss and separation.

Country Profile: United Kingdom

Total Population: 66 million
Total Children under the age of 18: 12 million

The situation of children in the United Kingdom

  • This year, approximately 40,000 children will enter the care system. A similar number will leave the system – either returning to live with their birth families, are adopted, or ‘age out’.
  • 80% of the children in the care system live with foster carers.
  • Last year 4,500 children were adopted and 4,000 had a special guardianship order. In this case, one or more individuals are appointed to be a child’s special guardian, without legal ending the relationship with the birth parents.
  • It is estimated that more than 200,000 children are living within kinship carers – these are often informal arrangements and therefore many are not included in the above statistics.
  • It is estimated that this year the UK needs 8,000 more foster carers, and there are currently 3,000 children waiting to be adopted – 40% wait for longer than 18 months.

National Movement
Our vision is – a home for every child who needs one. When Home for Good launched as a charity in 2014, there were 9,000 foster carers urgently needed and approximately 6,000 children waiting to be adopted – and approximately 15,000 evangelical churches in the UK! Therefore, if one family in each of these churches stepped up to foster or adopt, there would be no children waiting for a home; but, it’s not just about the families stepping up to foster or adopt. It’s also about the rest of the church wrapping around and supporting these families.

Other Information about Orphaned and Vulnerable Children and Family Care in UK

Better Care Network Information on Family-Based Care in UK

More information for prayer at Operation World

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