Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether local authorities in Lancashire will be eligible to partner with charities and independent fostering agencies when applying for funding through the Fostering Innovation Fund.

Lancashire County Council will be able to apply for the Innovation Fund as part of the Foster with Us fostering hub. The department encourages applications from areas working in partnership with other organisations, such as charities or independent fostering agencies.

The Fostering Innovation Fund, which launched on 14 May, is open for bids from Regional Care Cooperatives (RCC) and end-to-end fostering hubs, including both existing and those who, at the time of the fund launch, are applying to become an RCC or end-to-end fostering hub. Only those who have been successful in their applications to become an RCC or fostering hub will be awarded funding. Further details can be found in the application guidance at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fostering-innovation-fund-application-guidance

We will notify successful bidders in due course.