SCOTTISH children are being placed with foster families away from their local communities far too frequently due to a lack of foster carers, the UK’s leading fostering charity has warned.
The Fostering Network is drawing attention to the issue during its annual campaign to raise awareness – Foster Care Fortnight – which encourages more people to take the leap to become foster carers.
The charity claims that there is a drought in foster families and that around 500 more are needed in Scotland in order to ensure the welfare of all children whose family is unable to take care of them.
In particular, they highlight the issue facing sibling groups, which are in dire need of foster carers to support them.
The number of children removed from their local communities is of concern to the charity, as the family, friends, schools and clubs around them are often “the scaffolding that supports them”.
Jacqueline Cassidy, director of The Fostering Network in Scotland, said: “We cannot underestimate the importance of keeping siblings together and ensuring children are looked after in their local area, surrounded by everything they are familiar with already.
“We have made a promise to our children that we will help them achieve their best possible outcomes and for this we need more people to foster.
“You can become a foster carer no matter your age, gender, relationship status or sexual orientation. The fostering community is open to people from all walks of life and backgrounds, so if you think you have what it takes to look after children, please look into fostering today.”
Partners Anita and Iain from Falkirk have been foster carers for the past 22 years. Iain said: “We wouldn’t know what to do without fostering now. It’s part of ours and our birth children’s lives. It’s not always easy, but there are so many kids out there who need a home and an adult who will commit and be there for them.
“I’m not a ‘typical’ foster carer and I’m amazed at the variety of people who do it. It’s certainly not a one size fits all, but when you are sure of your reasons for wanting to foster and have the facilities to be able to, why wouldn’t you? It’s about giving young people the time, space and ability to blossom into the people they want to become.”
