Oldham Council launches Stepping Forward fostering campaign 2026

Oldham Council has launched its Stepping Forward fostering campaign to help children living in residential care find loving foster homes. The initiative comes as the borough faces growing demand for foster carers, particularly with the Cost of Living crisis pushing more families into crisis and children needing support.

Mayor and Mayoress Cllr Eddie Moores and his wife Kath are leading by example, sharing their journey of becoming foster carers at just 25 years old. 'You will create so many happy memories like we did,' they say, urging others to take the step. Their personal story aims to show that fostering is accessible to people from all walks of life.

The council is also promoting its powerful short film 'Everything' which highlights why fostering could be 'the most rewarding thing you'll ever do.' This builds on recent successes including the 2024 Fostering Awards, which celebrated 175 years of fostering experience among local carers-perfectly timed with Oldham's own 175th anniversary celebrations.

New support systems are being rolled out too, with the Mockingbird programme creating 'communities of families' to better support foster families. The council is also encouraging LGBTQ+ individuals to explore fostering during LGBT+ History Month, breaking down barriers and stereotypes about who can provide a loving home for vulnerable children.