Details
About Us
Positive Aspirations Group (PAG) - Fostering
Positive Aspirations Group is a family-owned children's social care organisation that operates a network of independent fostering agencies across the United Kingdom. The group focuses on recruiting, training, and supporting foster carers to provide stable, loving homes for children who have had a difficult start in life.
Who We Are
Positive Aspirations Group operates as an umbrella organisation, functioning through three distinct, locally focused independent fostering agencies (IFAs): Greater London Fostering (GLF), South Coast Fostering, and Fostering Hearts.
The group is led by Richard, the son of the company's founder, and Melanie, the Responsible Individual in charge of day-to-day operations across all agencies. Their model is built on the belief that small, regional agencies can offer a more personal and responsive community feel while still benefiting from the shared resources and stability of a larger group. Since its inception in 1998, the group has supported over 4,500 children and young people.
Headquartered in Stratford, London, the group prides itself on its "Aspirations" ethos—focusing not just on care, but on building the confidence and future goals of every child and staff member. They are known for a high level of support, with supervising social workers maintaining small caseloads to ensure meaningful, reflective supervision rather than reactive crisis management.
All agencies within the group are registered and regulated by Ofsted.
What We Do
Foster Carer Recruitment & Training
Identifying and preparing individuals to become foster carers through a comprehensive 4–5 month assessment process, including the "Skills to Foster" training.
Long-Term & Short-Term Fostering
Providing placements for children requiring stay durations ranging from a few nights (respite or emergency) to several years (permanent foster care).
Specialist & Therapeutic Fostering
Supporting children with complex emotional and behavioural needs through trauma-informed care frameworks and advanced behavioural support training.
Parent & Child Placements
Offering specialist placements where a parent and their baby live with a foster carer who provides support and assessment of the parent's ability to care for their child.
Siblings Placements
Prioritising the placement of siblings together to maintain vital family bonds during their time in the care system.
24/7 Professional Support
Ensuring foster carers have access to a dedicated supervising social worker and a round-the-clock emergency support line, recognizing that fostering is a "beyond 9-to-5" commitment.
Approach & Values
Positive Aspirations Group focuses on aspiration, community, and integrity.
They prioritise meaningful relationships, ensuring that every carer is known by name and receives regular, thoughtful supervision. Their approach is designed to be values-led, often choosing to "do the right thing rather than the easy thing" when it comes to the stability of a child's placement.
A strong emphasis is placed on lifelong learning, with a vast training hub offering courses on attachment, safeguarding, and child development to help carers transition from volunteers to skilled professionals.
Industry Role
Positive Aspirations Group plays a vital role in the UK fostering market, providing high-quality placement options for local authorities across Southern England, the Midlands, and beyond.
As a group of independent agencies, the organisation contributes to the sector's diversity, offering a more bespoke alternative to large national "corporate" fostering providers. They act as a "safety net and springboard," helping vulnerable children move toward successful independence or reunification with their birth families.
They offer a nurturing environment for social work professionals, with reviews frequently highlighting the group as a supportive workplace where staff are empowered to focus on qualitative outcomes for children rather than just administrative targets.