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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
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
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.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fostering information event to take place in Kent
An online event takes is set to take place aimed at those who want to find out more about fostering in Kent. The information day takes place from 10:00 BST on Saturday and is organised as part of Foster Care Fortnight. Across south-east England there is currently a shortage of 820 foster carers, according to Kent Fostering. A spokesperson for the organisation said their event was to "raise awareness of the life-changing impact fostering can have". "Foster carers play a crucial role in providing safe, stable, and nurturing homes for children and young people - many of whom have faced difficult or traumatic experiences. "They support children in their education, physical and emotional wellbeing, and help them rebuild trust and confidence." 'Greatest gifts' Debbie Bashford, a Kent-based foster carer, said: "When I first considered becoming a foster carer, two of my biggest worries were how it might affect my birth children and how we would ever cope with saying goodbye to a child we had cared for. "Now, looking back, those very concerns have become two of the greatest gifts fostering has given us."Sarah Thomas, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: "Strong, supportive relationships are at the heart of fostering. "They connect foster carers, children, families, and practitioners, creating a community that surrounds children with the care they need to thrive." Ms Bashford added: "We only hope the children gain as much from being with us as we do from having them in our lives. "Fostering is all about relationships and those connections will stay with you forever."
Edinburgh Reporter
06-05-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Virtual event to learn all about fostering
St Andrew's Children's Society are holding a Virtual Fostering Information Event on Thursday, 22 May from 6pm to 7.30pm as part of Foster Care Fortnight™, organised by The Fostering Network. Anyone is invited to register on Eventbrite using the link below. This is a meeting on Teams. Why attend the Virtual Fostering information event? Everyone who wants to find out more about becoming a foster carer is encouraged to attend to learn about: The fostering process The children waiting to be fostered What it's like to foster a child The support St Andrew's Children's Society offer, including training and events The financial support available to all their foster carers Hear from one of the St Andrew's Children's Society's foster carers One of their foster carers will be joining the meeting at our Virtual Fostering Information Event and they will relate their experiences of fostering and answer any questions. Why choose St Andrew's Children's Society? In this video, Bridget, one of the foster carers, explains why she and her husband chose to foster through the society. Who can foster? St Andrews welcome fostering enquiries from all members of the community, including single people. The society helps people to foster who live within 60 miles of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Elgin. What types of foster carers are they looking for? St Andrews are looking for short term, long term and short break (also known as respite) foster carers. Transferring foster agencies Sometimes people want to transfer from one fostering agency or their local authority to another fostering organisation. In this blog post, one of the foster care families talk about transferring to St Andrew's Children's Society: Considering transferring foster agency? – St Andrew's Children's Society Next steps St Andrews say they really hope you can join them for our Virtual Fostering Information Event. Sign up here Call 0131 454 3370 if you have any questions or if you are unable to make it that day and would like to speak to someone about fostering. Alternatively, please send an email to info@ Like this: Like Related
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Empty nesters 'not too old' to become foster carers
Empty nesters should not worry they are too old to become foster carers, as those who have made the move tell the BBC they have "a huge amount to offer" . Parents who started fostering after their grown-up children left home encouraged others to "just go for it". It comes after the children's minister urged empty nesters to consider fostering due to a "decline in the number of foster carers to the point of crisis". But charity The Fostering Network warns government action falls short of what is needed to recruit and retain dedicated carers. When Sharon quit her job and became a foster carer aged 51, her friends and family asked: "Why would you want to?" Her own children had grown up, and she had more time to spend with her husband Tim at their home in Leicester. But Sharon was set on fostering because she "wanted to make a difference". Foster carers provide a home to children who cannot live with their birth family for different reasons. These include short-term family crises like an illness, or experiences such as abuse and neglect. Children can be looked after for short or long periods of time. At first, Sharon and Tim had "some very difficult times" with the foster child, who the BBC is not naming. He has since had "a complete transformation", she said. He is thriving at school, has lots of friends, and is learning to play the trumpet. Sharon says she now does her "own advertising" for fostering later in life with family and friends. "Some of my friends say, 'I couldn't do it'. I say, 'why not?' "Just go for it, you see there's so many children who need just the basics in life, a loving secure home, and to feel that sense of belonging." More than 56,000 children were in foster care in England in 2024, according to government data, while The Fostering Network estimates there is a shortage of 5,000 foster carers. Minister for Children and Families Janet Daby has urged empty nesters to help address this shortage. "Maybe your child has left for university, you are retired, or you feel like you can give a child the fulfilling family they deserve," she told the BBC. "We urge anyone who is interested to reach out to your local council to find out more about making a difference to a child's life chances." Allan's first question when he and his wife first looked into fostering, aged 64, was: "Am I too old?" Without their three adult children, their four-bedroom family home in Scotland was not as full as it once was. "I began to feel a bit selfish," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "I said to my wife, we really could do this and take someone in." Their children were surprised and urged their parents to "enjoy life". But Allan and his wife were told "if you're healthy, fit and you feel that you want to do this, you're definitely not too old". "They gave us a bit of a lift really, thinking we've not been written off." However, Allan admits the child they came to foster was curious about his age. "He saw my date of birth (and asked), 'are you really?'" The Fostering Network estimates there is currently a shortage of 400 foster carers in Scotland, where the latest figures show more than 3,900 children were in foster care in 2023. The Scottish government provided more than £2m to support foster carers in 2024-25, and more than £150,000 towards carer recruitment, training and advice services. When Allan's foster child arrived, he was "scared, very unsure - not knowing how long it's going to last". Now, he sees Allan's grandchildren as his cousins, and the grown-up children as his aunt and uncles. "My message to older people is, if you're even thinking about it, at least pursue it." Steve and Liz had reservations about fostering when the idea occurred to them 20 years ago. "But we just felt we had such a huge amount to offer," said Steve, 70, from the West Midlands. "We had space in the house, were used to having children, and had the time." Since then, they have fostered 16 children. Steve said people should approach fostering with their eyes "wide open". "The young people have experienced lots of different things your own children wouldn't normally do," he explained. "But you can pick the phone up and speak with a supporting social worker very easily… they'll come back to you with strategies. "Once you get into the swing of it, it feels natural." Steve and Liz are currently caring for two boys who are progressing "absolutely brilliantly", and are eager to see what the future holds. In the short term, they are planning their "huge" annual Easter egg hunt - in which their children, grandchildren, and former foster children will take part. "Certainly if you've got an inkling you'd like to try it, try it," Steve added. In the Spring Statement, the chancellor announced £25m over two years to recruit 400 more foster families in England, improve support for carers, and ensure placements were available to children when needed. The Fostering Network's chief executive Sarah Thomas agreed more carers were "desperately needed," but said further action on retention was crucial. Dedicated carers were stepping away due to "a lack of support, insufficient respect from professionals, and burnout", she told the BBC. "Without addressing these fundamental issues, the system will continue to struggle." The children's minister recognised the impact foster carers have "on breaking down barriers to opportunity and nurturing some of our most vulnerable children". She said the government was "committed to removing barriers for carers – ensuring that age, training and background don't stand in the way", and offering support and advice at regional fostering hubs.
