Derby City Council is set to lead a major regional programme to create more foster home places for children and young people across the East Midlands.
Cabinet members, who meet on Wednesday 9 September, are being asked to approve Derby’s role as lead council for the East Midlands Room Makers Programme, part of the Government’s wider children’s social care reforms. As lead for the Foster for East Midlands Councils (FFEMC) Fostering Hub, Derby would receive Government funding from the Department for Education (DfE) for 2026/27 and 2027/28.
The Room Makers Programme provides targeted investment to adapt the homes of foster carers, helping to create, extend or improve living space so that more children can benefit from high-quality, family-based care. This could include, for example, converting loft or garage space into extra bedrooms or improving shared living areas so that carers are able to welcome additional children into their homes.
The investment will increase local fostering capacity, reduce reliance on more costly external placements, and support the Council’s statutory responsibilities for children in care. It represents a significant and positive investment in fostering across the East Midlands, supporting more children to grow up in loving, stable family homes close to their schools, friends and communities.
Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:
This funding is great news for children and young people across our region. By investing directly in the homes of foster carers, we can create more local, stable and loving family homes, which we know are vital for helping children to thrive.
As lead council for this programme, Derby is proud to be working with our neighbouring authorities to increase fostering capacity and improve outcomes for children in care.
As lead council, Derby City Council will coordinate delivery of the programme on behalf of the four local authorities involved in Foster for East Midlands Councils (FFEMC): Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council.
Local authorities will identify eligible foster carers and projects, with decisions on funding taken through the regional fostering hub to ensure consistency, value for money and that local needs are met.