Can you really foster one weekend a month?

When people think about fostering, they often assume it requires a full-time commitment. But that isn't always the case.

For some carers, fostering can be as little as one weekend a month, providing children and young people with regular short breaks while offering valuable support to their foster families.

For Helen*, fostering one weekend a month offers a flexible way to make a difference while fitting around her own life and commitments.

Over the past three years, Helen has welcomed children and young people into her home for regular weekend stays, fitting fostering around her own interests and commitments while making a meaningful difference to local families in Oxfordshire.

"If you're able to contribute something different from the main carer, that's an asset."

What does fostering one weekend a month look like?

Respite fostering provides children and young people with a chance to spend time away from their usual routine, while giving their main carers an opportunity to visit family, manage day-to-day commitments or simply take some well-earned time to rest and recharge

And while a few weekends a year might seem like a small contribution, Helen has seen first-hand the difference those weekends can make.

Exploring a whole new world

When one young boy first came into care, he had spent very little time outside a one-bedroom flat. His confidence was still developing, and many everyday experiences were completely new to him.

"When he first came to me, he couldn't walk to the top of my garden. Now he strides out for miles."

The weekends opened up a whole new world of adventures. Together, they flew kites, explored woodland trails, walked through open fields and visited new places. Alongside the support of his main carer, these experiences helped him grow in confidence and curiosity.

"This is a little boy who is now flourishing, and he has discovered the world in the last year."

Over time, he also got to know Helen’s neighbours and friends, widening the circle of people around him. His main carer remains at the centre of his life, with Helen providing additional consistency, encouragement and support.

"Children need different people around them."

Today, he is more confident and keen to explore the world around him.

This is what respite fostering looks like: a relationship built one weekend at a time.

It's a small but powerful commitment. For a child or young person, it can provide stability, new experiences, meaningful connections and something positive to look forward to. For their main carer, it offers valuable time to rest and recharge.

What begins as just a few weekends a year can become much more than time away. It can become a relationship where a young person feels safe, valued and supported.

Helen's story shows that even a small amount of time can have a big impact.

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We're part of something bigger

Oxfordshire County Council is proud to partner with 19 other local councils in a regional fostering recruitment hub, Local Authority Fostering South East.

*Names and some identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the foster carer and children featured in this story.