More Than Just a Bag: Why We’re Celebrating Lloyds Banking Group’s New Milestone

At Madlug, we believe that every child in care should be treated with value, worth, and dignity. But that dignity doesn't just come from a bag, it comes from a community that supports them.

That’s why we are incredibly proud to celebrate our partner, Lloyds Banking Group, on becoming officially accredited as a Fostering Friendly employer by The Fostering Network.

Supporting the People Who Provide the Homes

We know that for a child to feel settled and secure, their foster carers need to feel supported. Lloyds is leading the way by offering flexible working and additional paid leave for employees who are foster carers.

This means foster carers can attend vital training, meet with social workers, and, most importantly, be there for a child during those first few vulnerable days in a new home, without the stress of losing pay or using up annual leave.

"Becoming a foster carer has only been made possible because of the incredible support I’ve had at Lloyds Banking Group…giving me the space to pause work when life needed my attention…giving me the opportunity to change the lives of young people in care." - Tyrone Fletcher, Lloyds Colleague & Foster Carer

A Partnership Built on Purpose

Our relationship with Lloyds Banking Group goes further. Since 2023, they have purchased over 13,000 Madlug bags for their colleagues. Because of their choice to partner with us, thousands of children in care have received their own pack-away travel bags, ensuring they never have to move their belongings in a bin bag.

But Lloyds is going beyond the bag. Through Project Hope, they are creating real career pathways. 25 care-experienced young people have been recruited into permanent roles and apprenticeships since 2025, with even more planned for 2026 and beyond.

Why This Matters Right Now

The fostering sector is currently facing a crisis of support. Every year, more carers leave the system than join it, often because they feel unseen and unsupported in the vital work they do. When the UK’s largest bank steps up and says, 'We value foster carers,' it proves that their commitment to supporting their staff is a commitment to the dignity of every child those carers welcome into their homes.

As Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network, puts it:

"It’s vital that foster carers receive the right support... so they can fully commit to their fostering responsibilities."

Looking Ahead

We are so much more than a luggage company, we are a movement. Seeing partners like Lloyds Banking Group embrace the same values of "Dignity for All" makes us even more determined to keep going.

To the team at Lloyds: Thank you for standing with foster carers, and thank you for standing with us. Together, we’re making sure no child, or the family that cares for them, is left to carry the load alone.