Fostering A Muslim Child

It is estimated that there are over 4,500 children of Muslim heritage currently in care across England and Wales. As a child-focused fostering agency, we recognise the crucial role that family, faith, and community play in a child’s development. That’s why we need Muslim foster carers who can offer these children a home grounded in faith, providing a loving, supportive family environment that will make a lasting, positive impact on their life.

Why Foster a Muslim Child?

When deciding where a foster child should be placed, there are lots of factors to be considered such as:

The skills of the foster parent
The foster family household composition
The age of the foster child
The religion and cultural identity of the foster child and foster family

Being placed with Muslim foster carers that obviously understand and respect the child’s cultural practices can be incredibly beneficial. The child is more likely to feel comfortable and form a positive bond with their foster parents early on.

While cultural matching is ideal, it may not always be possible, as we must also consider the child’s other needs. Our primary goal is to ensure that every child feels safe, secure, and accepted in their home.

“As a Muslim carer born in England, I hope I can promote this positively with the children that come into my care. Muslims come from all over the world, and it is interesting how we all have differences in culture but not in belief. We can then share these differences and learn from each other and connect, in this way the child doesn’t lose their religious background, even if they don’t practice their faith it is still a reminder of who they are. We learn from each other and it’s fun.”

Yasmin, TACT foster carer since 2022

How you can support a Muslim Foster Child

Becoming a foster parent to a Muslim child is about more than offering a secure home—it’s about providing a nurturing space where the child can freely practice Islam and grow confidently in their faith. Here are some ways fostering within the Muslim community can make a profound difference:

1. Talking About faith

Talking about faith can make some foster children feel uneasy. Providing emotional and practical support to foster children about their faith is very important.

Encouraging openness and discussion can make a child feel more at ease and understood. Some foster children may take more time to build up the courage to openly talk about their faith.

2. Islamic Prayer (Salah)

Salah is Islamic prayer that is performed five times per day.

Muslim foster children should be provided with a quiet, private space in the home where they can offer their daily prayers in peace and focus.

3. Halal Food

Providing halal meals is a key part of fostering in line with Islamic values. Whether it’s everyday meals or special ones like Suhoor and iftar during Ramadan, ensuring the food meets these dietary requirements helps children feel respected and valued in their faith.

4. Celebrating Ramadan and Eid

These sacred occasions also offer wonderful opportunities for family bonding. As a foster carer, you will have the privilege of helping a child celebrate Ramadan and Eid, fostering a strong sense of belonging and connection to their faith and community.

Could you foster a Muslim child?

If you feel that you could make a real difference to a young person’s life, there are some initial criteria to fulfil:

You must be over 21 years old (there is no upper age limit)
You must have at least one spare bedroom
You must be a full-time resident in the UK or have indefinite leave to remain
You must have good spoken and written English
You must have the time and availability to dedicate yourself to fostering

If you have answered ‘yes’ to all of the above, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch below – we’re here to support you every step of the way.