Urgent appeal launched to find more foster carers in Dumfries and Galloway
The Fostering Network estimates at least 400 new foster carers are needed across Scotland.
An urgent appeal has been launched to find more foster carers in Dumfries and Galloway.
The Fostering Network estimates at least 400 new foster carers are needed across Scotland.
And with Foster Care Fortnight running until May 26, people in Dumfries and Galloway are being asked to consider if they could provide a safe, supportive foster home for a child or young person.
Ciar of the region's social work services committee, Councillor Pauline Drysdale, said: 'Fostering is a hugely important part of helping local children find comfort and security in the ordinary moments, close to home. With a full enrolment and training programme in place through our fostering and adoption team, anyone over the age of 21 with the free space to accommodate a foster child can come forward and make a real difference to the life of a local young person looking for a safe place to stay.
'Dumfries and Galloway is a beautiful place to grow up, and finding local people of all backgrounds who can open their homes to children from the region who are in need of a place to stay means a world of difference to that child; it's the difference between possibly having to relocate to an unfamiliar area, and being able to stay close to the people, places and spaces they know and cherish.'
Sarah Bennett, who has been a foster carer for 14 years, added: 'People often speak about how foster caring changes children's lives, but he's changed our lives completely. Every child needs a safe, loving environment, and somebody in their corner to fight for them, advocate for them, and think they're the best thing since sliced bread. If you can do that by becoming a foster carer, the rewards can be huge. It's an amazing experience, there are lows as well as highs, of course, but my family and I have learned so much about ourselves as people. It's been so positive for us.'
THe Scottish Government has launched a new campaign to support the recruitment of more foster carers and raise awareness of the benefits of fostering.
First Minister John Swinney said: 'Foster carers play a vital role supporting and providing safe and loving foster homes to children and young people. They are key to our ambition of delivering The Promise by 2030.
'Across Scotland, foster carers provide stability, care and connection to support children and young people to thrive.
'Our campaign importantly focuses on how the everyday 'ordinary' can be extraordinary for a child in foster care. Fostering can be transformational for a child or young person and by stepping forward, foster carers offer not just a home, but the relationships and support that help shape brighter futures.'
Assistant director for Scotland at The Fostering Network, Anne Currie, added: 'We welcome the launch of the Scottish Government's national campaign to recruit foster carers, and hope this leads to more people stepping forward Dumfries and Galloway to become foster carers in Scotland, and raises awareness of the vital role fostering plays.
'The need has never been more urgent – as over 350 foster carers leave each year, it's critical that we take action now.'
For more information on how to become a foster carer, visit The Scottish Government website or ring the Fosterline service on 0141 204 1400.
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