Banya began in 1997 with a very simple goal: to put children first. In the beginning, we were just a small team of social workers with fewer than ten foster carers and even fewer children and young people in our care.
Our absolute priority was ensuring that local authorities could place children with foster families who were deeply supported, expertly supervised, and genuinely safe. We wanted to make sure that our families had the tools they needed to meet every responsibility, while giving vulnerable children a true sense of belonging.
Today, Banya has grown into a leading independent fostering agency, supporting hundreds of foster carer households all over the UK. Over the last 25 years, more than 7,000 children and young people have benefited from placements with our foster families. While we have grown, our heart hasn’t changed. We remain a deeply family-oriented, independent, and diverse BME-led agency dedicated to changing lives.
Banya gets its name from the Shona language. Banya is a community centre where everyone has a sense of belonging. This centre is used for harvest, rain dances, festivals and is where people gather whenever there are issues in the community.
Our fostering agency has grown successfully over the years, there are more of us in every way, but we would like to think that our ethos of ‘A Sense of Belonging’ remains intact as we continue to progress.
Our Values And Vision
We actively cultivate a culture of fairness, openness, integrity, accountability and expect the same from all of our carers and staff. We have a very simple belief: together, we achieve more. We know that creating a safe, loving environment for a child takes a whole community.
That is why we treat our staff, our foster parents, and the children in our care as one single family. If our staff feel supported and valued, they can look after our carers, who can then provide the absolute best care for our children.
Our vision is to build a community where every child feels an absolute sense of belonging, and where the foster families and staff who support them are valued as one single, unstoppable team.
The Core Values That Guide Us Every Day:
Belief in Diversity: Background, heritage, and culture are assets to be celebrated. Our diversity shapes who we are, how we work, and how we care.
Commitment to Potential: Every young person deserves a fair start in life and the opportunity to build a bright, independent future, no matter where their story began.
Strength in Partnership: Exceptional care is impossible in isolation. We value the unique voice and expertise of our staff, our social workers, and our foster parents equally.
Uncompromising Safety: Physical and emotional safety is a fundamental right. Protecting our children, supporting our families, and safeguarding our staff is the foundation of every decision we make.
A Culture of Belonging: Everyone in the Banya family, carers, children, and employees alike, should feel seen, heard, and deeply valued for who they are.
What Ofsted Says About The Banya Family:
“Children are seen as a priority. Skilled foster carers work closely together with the agency staff to promote children’s well-being. They actively involve the children in their plans and support them to attend meetings. Care plans are closely monitored, and children’s achievements are recognised, celebrated and rewarded. This approach helps the children to feel valued and encourages them to make further progress.”
“Senior leaders and managers are extremely aspirational for children, agency staff and foster carers. They have a clear vision and are continually looking for new and creative ways to develop the service. The work they do is fully supported by a committed and stable staff team who work very hard, across the country, supporting foster carers and children. Their ‘one team’ approach is evident in the high-quality and consistent service they provide, which is really valued by everyone.”
Rated ‘Outstanding’ By Ofsted
As a social care provider, we are inspected on a regular cycle by Ofsted to ensure our services are completely safe, supportive, and legally compliant. We don’t just aim to meet internal and external standards, our quality assurance team constantly strives to exceed them.
We are incredibly proud to share that in our latest inspection, Banya achieved the highest possible grade of Outstanding across all areas.
Make A Difference
Fostering is a journey built on community, trust, and exceptional care. If you are ready to make a lasting difference to a child’s life with an agency that stands right beside you, we would love to welcome you.
Call our team today on 0800 989 0135, or complete our short online enquiry form to get in touch.