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The Courier
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Prom photos: Inverkeithing High School Class of 2025
Inverkeithing High School leavers' prom was a special moment for the Fife school's Class of 2025. S6 pupils celebrated the end of their school days with one final party together. Our photographer Steve MacDougall joined their prom there at the DoubleTree by Hilton Queensferry on Friday evening. Inverkeithing High leavers' prom features in our Class of '25 photo gallery series. Look out for more throughout June from secondary school leavers' proms and dances across Tayside and Fife. All photographs by Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson.
The Courier
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Prom photos: Bertha Park High School Class of 2025
Bertha Park senior prom was an unforgettable night for the Perth school's Class of 2025. Leavers dressed to impress in gowns, suits and kilts to celebrate the end of their school days. Our photographer Steve MacDougall joined them as they arrived for the special occasion at Piperdam on Thursday evening. Bertha Park High senior prom features in our Class of '25 photo gallery series. Look out for more throughout June from secondary school leavers' proms and dances across Tayside and Fife. All photographs by Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson.
Sunday Post
25-05-2025
- General
- Sunday Post
Scotland is short of 400 foster carers… do you have what it takes?
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up There has never been a more urgent need for foster homes in Scotland than there is right now. So says Anne Currie, assistant director for Scotland at The Fostering Network. 'As over 350 foster carers leave each year, it's critical that we take action now,' she said, adding that Scotland needs at least 400 more to meet demand. As Foster Care Fortnight comes to a close today, with people across the country being encouraged to consider if they could provide a safe, supportive foster home for a child or young person, we meet six Scots carers to hear more about their journeys. Two of the girls call me Auntie now, that's how they see me © Steve MacDougall / DC Thomson & Kirstin Hardie, from Perth, has been a foster carer for three years. The 32-year-old, who is single and works part-time as a teacher, has two sets of sisters who come monthly. She's also been approved for interim foster care and now has seven-year-old twins living with her full-time. 'It was something I'd thought about for a long time,' she said. 'It fit with my lifestyle and my house was empty – why not fill some of these bedrooms? 'At the beginning, everybody was quite nervous about me doing it, because I'm on my own and was only 28 when I started. 'Now, having seen what it's like, my parents are also really involved. They buy Christmas presents for the kids and that kind of thing. 'The biggest joy is going around looking like Santa! It's not about the material gifts but knowing that these kids see people are thinking of them and want to be with them. Some of them haven't had that before.' Vital to becoming a foster carer is the support network of the various organisations involved, as well as fellow carers and family. 'It is harder as a single carer, but having that support is brilliant,' Kirstin said. She added: 'Two of the girls call me Auntie and that's how they see me. Coming to me is a bit cooler than going to an older foster. 'I think for them it takes away the stigma that there still is of being in foster care. They don't really tell people that's what they're coming to me for – they just say they're with their auntie.' As a single gay man, I might not fit stereotypical view of a carer © Steve MacDougall / DC Thomson & It was working alongside Kirstin Hardie that led fellow teacher James Snowden to apply for fostering, being approved as a short break carer in summer 2024. 'I've always worked for young people, so I've seen first-hand the impacts of foster care and the types of people who need that support,' he said. 'I'm a single gay man, which might not fit with people's view of a stereotypical foster carer, but it's now such a broad selection of people. I saw that first-hand going through the process. I also work full time, which I thought would be a barrier but it hasn't been at all.' One boy and a brother and sister regularly stay with James during weekends and school holidays. 'It's almost like a little holiday. We're often doing different activities, taking them out and about,' James said. 'Some of these kids have had such difficult experiences, and it's great to do fun stuff with them which they don't get to do very often. 'It makes a difference to the kids, but it's also giving their carers a bit of respite as well. It benefits both ways.' James hopes his involvement in fostering can expand from the stereotypes people may have of foster carers. 'There are misconceptions,' he said. 'People think you need to be retired or not working or have these kids all the time, when actually there's a whole bunch of different ways of getting involved. 'If you've got the will to make it work and are going into it with the ability and desire to help people, that's a great starting point. I'm absolutely loving it and the team around me has been really supportive.' When they move on we feel two equally strong emotions: loss and triumph © Supplied Eric and Rena Parker, from Fife, have fostered 40 children over 14 years, from emergency care to longer stays. 'We've always loved kids,' Eric said. 'We've had three of our own and we've got five grandchildren now with another one on the way. 'The rewarding aspect was the feeling of doing good for a wee one. 'It's just a feeling of fulfilment and supporting a child, being there for them when maybe nobody else is and filling that gap. 'We look at ourselves as being a bridge. Ultimately, when they move and they transition towards something else, that's a great hardship for us, but it's also a great, positive thing. 'We feel two equally strong emotions, a sense of loss but another sense of triumph.' Eric, a former community psychiatric nurse, still keeps in touch with some of those who the couple have had through their doors. 'We fostered a boy who arrived in the UK as a refugee from Afghanistan, who stayed with us between the ages of 14 and 16. He still sends us Christmas, Father's Day and Mother's Day cards and has come on really well.' For anyone thinking they'd be interested in fostering, Eric, 65, said: 'Until you get involved, you don't realise how big the need is just in your locality. 'Speak to people who have a little bit of experience or can give you some insight. Make the inquiry. There's no pressure. 'You are rewarded, you are paid, you are helped to manage the situation and that's good. You're not left on your own just to get on with it.' We have had a thousand rewarding moments © Supplied Bruce Ramage and his wife Debbie, from Alloa, have been fostering for more than 13 years. Their journey began after supporting a family member through the adoption process and facing challenges conceiving a second child. They went through seven months of intensive training and a further nine months of preparation work before being approved. 'It was long so we had the opportunity to see if it was right for us,' Bruce said. 'Can we do what the expectations are, can we open ourselves up completely? Everything came back as a yes.' Over their time as foster carers, they've had between 30 and 40 placements, ranging from full-time stays to short respites. 'If you'd asked me seven years ago, would I be sitting here today with four kids under 10 … I'm 53, I'd have said no chance! 'It's the best decision we've ever made. I just feel so fortunate that my wife and I can do something for them. We've had a thousand rewarding moments since we started. 'There was a child we had when she was a teenager who would come every Easter for two weeks' respite. She's now a mum herself and we're still in contact. 'The things we did with her in that fortnight, she does with her own kids now.' Bruce added: 'The process is long enough for you to work out if it's for you or not. 'It's now my full-time job. It's more like a vocation, to be honest. It's hard work, testing, and sometimes not given the credit it's due. 'It's about understanding the young person and adapting your life into their way at the start for them to then have the security of adopting your life.' Fostering is open to people of all ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, genders and family structures. For more information on how to become a foster carer, visit or call the Fosterline service on 0141 204 1400
The Courier
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
One of Perth's oldest bars reopens after undergoing facelift
Director Kirsty Robertson outside the recently revamped Kirkside Bar. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson One of the oldest bars in Perth is back serving customers after undergoing a facelift. The Kirkside bar in the city's Cafe Quarter reopened on Friday night after an eight-week refurbishment. Changes to the St John's Square pub include a new sound system, upgraded toilets and interior, and new flooring. Revellers flocked to 'The Kirky' over the bank holiday weekend, with customers saying they were pleased with the upgrades. Perth pub revamp was 'a long time coming' Kirsty Robertson is a director at the PGC Group, which owns the well-known bar. She told The Courier: 'It was just needing done because the rest of the town is getting done up, with the likes of Perth Museum. 'Also, because it will be nice for tourists and people visiting to experience a good local pub. The Kirkside Bar is one of the oldest in Perth. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson The original features have been retained at the pub. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson The historic pub has been given a facelift. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson 'Everyone has loved it and is over the moon we've kept the original features and the same feel to the bar – we just upgraded it. 'We have a loyal clientele and thought it was a long time coming for a revamp. 'We want to invest in the city centre because we have other pubs and real estate in the town.' Elsewhere in Perth, a new family-run Indian restaurant is set to open in the city centre at the end of May. Tags
