One of Leeds’ longest-serving foster carers, who has helped more than 100 children get a better start in life, is urging others to consider opening their hearts and homes.
Marie Procter, 57, has fostered with Leeds City Council for 35 years and says she cannot imagine doing anything else. Her appeal comes as the council’s fostering service, Foster4Leeds, says more households are urgently needed. The fostering annual report for 2024/25, published today, puts the number of looked-after children in the city at 1,498 and highlights the importance of maintaining a strong and diverse pool of foster carers so children can remain in family settings close to their communities.
The report, which is due to be discussed at Leeds City Council’s executive board, sets out work to strengthen support for carers and make it easier for people to explore fostering. Foster4Leeds says anyone aged 21 or over can apply, and that having a spare room and the time to support a child are the key requirements to take the first step. Applications are welcome from people of any ethnic background, religion or sexuality, and factors such as employment status, relationship status or home ownership are not used to determine suitability.
Marie Procter began fostering at 23. For her first 18 years, she cared for children on remand while they awaited outcomes in youth court, before moving into more mainstream fostering. Although she has mainly cared for teenagers, one child who arrived at her home aged five is still living with her at 21. She currently also cares for three others aged 18, 19 and 13.
As well as fostering, Marie is chair of the independent Leeds Foster Carer Association, which provides 24/7 support to foster carers. She is also a hub home carer for a Mockingbird hub — a local network of foster families who benefit from her guidance and support.
Marie Procter said: “It’s given me a lovely life. I’ve had lots of opportunities and chances to meet and work with different people and try different things.
“I’d urge anyone considering it to take the next step. Once you see what it can bring to you, and what you can offer young people, it’s so worth it.”
Recruiting and retaining foster carers remains a key priority for Foster4Leeds, with the annual report highlighting a range of targeted projects delivered over the past year. These include making it easier for people to find out more about fostering, with prospective carers now able to request an initial information pack, and increased collaboration with Child Friendly Leeds to reach more potential foster carers.
Marie added: “I don’t know how many children I’ve cared for over the years but I imagine it’s well over 100. I’ve never thought of doing anything else and wouldn’t change a thing. I hope I’m still doing it in ten years’ time.
“It’s a really important job. No matter what challenge they have, they’ve always got a safe, stable place to come back to.
“They might not always verbalise it the whole time – that they want to be here – but their actions show it. To see even the small changes is really rewarding – like wanting to eat together or saying goodnight – those simple things; and having somebody who understands them.”
The report also notes new work with leisure businesses to expand enrichment activities for foster families, the launch of a support group offering practical advice for newly approved and prospective foster carers, and the introduction of a ‘reconnections’ role for highly skilled professionals supporting children with complex needs. A dedicated fostering panel team manager has also been recruited to help improve the timely processing of decisions.
Foster4Leeds has also been recognised in inspections, with foster carers recently praised for providing a ‘high standard of care’ during a July 2025 inspection of Leeds City Council’s children’s services. Inspectors also highlighted the ‘excellent support’ available for children in care www.files.ofsted.gov.uk
Marie said she hopes more people will consider fostering and discover the difference they can make:
“It’s been shocking for me to see the decline in people coming forward to be foster carers.
“Even if you think maybe there’s a reason you won’t be able to – that’s not always the case. There’s not just one type of fostering – there are lots of different types that can fit around your life.”
Recruiting and keeping more foster carers remains a central priority for Foster4Leeds. The annual report outlines a range of targeted projects delivered over the past year, including:
- Making it easier for people to learn about fostering, with applicants now able to request an initial information pack.
- Stronger partnership work with Child Friendly Leeds to reach more potential foster carers, alongside work with leisure businesses to expand enrichment activities for foster families.
- A new support group offering practical advice and guidance for newly approved and prospective foster carers.
- The launch of a new foster carer ‘reconnections’ role, bringing in highly skilled professionals to support children with complex needs.
- The appointment of a dedicated fostering panel team manager to help speed up decision-making.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families said:
“The challenges we face are not unique to Leeds and reflect a national crisis in foster carer shortages, but we remain totally committed to ensuring our most vulnerable children have a safe place to live and the chance to thrive.
“Our work is constantly evolving to actively address the demand and we are already seeing positive progress this year, with the numbers of expressions of interest higher for the first three months of 2025 than in any year post-Covid.
“Children do their best living in family settings and it is our ambition that all children living in fostering families do so within the city of Leeds.
“I’d urge anyone interested to get in touch to see how you could help. As Marie shares, this is a truly rewarding role which makes a clear difference to children’s lives and our service provides full support every step of the way.
“Thank you once again to all of our incredible foster and kinship carers who go above and beyond to provide that crucial consistency in care for the children they support.”
To view the annual fostering report being considered by the executive board, please visit www.democracy.leeds.gov.uk
For more information about becoming a foster carer with Foster4Leeds, residents can contact Leeds City Council’s fostering service to request an information pack and speak to the team about what fostering could look like for them.
