The Cost of Foster Care report says spending on fostering needs to reach 1.68bn if the UK's 48,980 foster children under the age of 18 are to have the same opportunities as their peers.
Felicity Collier, chief executive of BAAF, said: "If we want these young people to have a very good chance in life it doesn't come cheap."
The charities say the bulk of the extra money should take the form of a fee for foster carers, to allow them to look after teenagers full time.
"Teenagers are more expensive to look after than children and our suggestion for fees reflects that," added Collier.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
