Martin Whitfield MSP is supporting Foster Care Fortnight (15-28 May) the UK’s largest foster care campaign, led by The Fostering Network.

Across Scotland, 500 more fostering families are needed and Mr Whitfield is urging constituents to come forward to foster so that more children can be cared for locally.

Currently, there are over 90,000 children in care in the UK. Three-quarters of them live with foster families, with 12,596 children in care in Scotland. More carers are needed to ensure that when safe to do so, every child who can’t live with their own family is cared for within their community. It is crucial they remain connected with the things that form their identity including school, friends, hobbies and wider family.

Being a foster carer is more than just providing a nurturing family home for children – it is about having the skills to support their development and growth. Foster carers need to be good listeners and communicators. They need confidence to speak up on behalf of the children in their care, as well as resilience and patience. Above all they must have the desire and ability to offer stability and security to children and young people – many of whom have had a difficult start to life.

Some foster families look after children on a short-term basis – for a few days or weeks. For many children, fostering offers them a secure and loving home for their whole childhood. Now is the time to get in touch with your local fostering service and find out how you can help children and young people in need of foster care in our local area.

Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“Foster Care Fortnight is a great opportunity to both thank current dedicated foster carers for everything they do to support children who need foster care, as well as promote the crucial role of fostering to help recruit new, much-needed foster carers.

“I’m pleased to thank foster carers in South Scotland for their care and commitment. I’m also helping promote fostering as a positive choice for anyone who has the skills and experience to help change a child’s life through foster care.”

Jacqueline Cassidy, director for Scotland at The Fostering Network said:

“Scotland has made a promise to care experienced children and young people that they will grow up loved, safe and respected. In every community across Scotland there are foster carers from all walks of life and backgrounds helping to fulfil that promise to thousands of children, and Foster Care Fortnight gives us the opportunity to say thank you to them.

“However, we urgently need more people to come forward so that every child who comes into care can live with a foster carer who can best meet their individual needs, in the area they belong.

“Fostering positively transforms the lives of children, as well as the lives of the foster carers that look after them, so if you think you might have what it takes to change a child’s life through fostering, Foster Care Fortnight is the ideal time to find out more.”

If you believe you have the skills to foster, then visit www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/could-you-foster to find out more and to contact your local fostering service.

Training and support are available for all foster carers from their fostering service as well as through The
Fostering Network.

Everyone can support and get involved in the fostering community. To find out how visit
www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/fcf.