Foster carers are often too busy looking after the most vulnerable to be aware of just how vulnerable they are themselves becoming. In the fast moving, policy changing society we now live in, now more than ever, it is important to protect ourselves against poverty when we retire. 

After all the years service that foster carers may give it is my belief that they should retire comfortably and not be relying on minimum state pensions.  It is also my belief that providing access to the contributory pension scheme may encourage foster carers to carry on doing this worthwhile career instead of having to leave to ensure they have a reasonable pension.  Some fostering service providers prefer foster carers not to work outside of the home which impacts upon their pensions.  

Foster carers live and work in a twilight Zone, self employed but not really self employed. It is within this zone that they are at risk. They have no protection of employment conditions, no sick leave, no holiday entitlement. The only protection we receive (gratefully I might add) is the minimum standards for allowances. 

Please support this petition, we must support those who serve others.