2,000 more foster parents needed in Scotland

Published on Friday 18 December 2009 22:09

SCOTLAND needs 2,000 extra foster parents to cope with the number of children in care, leading children's charity Barnardo's Scotland warned yesterday.

The charity – which places children for three-quarters of the local authorities in Scotland – is looking for a wide range people to care for primary-aged children who need additional help and support.

Barnardo's is also keen to hear from families who can provide regular, short-term accommodation.

Jane is just one example of the wide range of Scots who foster young children and teenagers.

She is currently fostering two brothers on a long-term basis, Mike, aged nine, and Dan, 11, who both have learning difficulties

Jane, who previously worked as a childminder for 18 years, also helps Barnardo's Scotland run training programmes for new and experienced carers.

She has recently completed a degree in early childhood studies.

Jane said: "I had always thought about becoming a carer when I was a childminder and contacted Barnardo's after I returned from Russia after working with orphans there.

"I realised that there were many children who needed a home in this country.

"The rewards of fostering are tremendous because you know you have made a difference in someone's life.

"You could have a high-powered job and not make a difference but to help one person and see them flourishing is worthwhile even though it can be slow progress."

She added that it was important for those applying not just to want to make a difference in people's lives, but to be able to stick with it "through thick and thin".

She added: "It's helpful to have a thick skin. I wouldn't say it's helpful feeling sorry for them, and carers should not expect miracles overnight.

"But seeing that you have made a difference in the child's life over the long term is worth it.

Jane also works alongside other carers with Barnardo's and helps the charity run training programmes and workshops to support other parts of the fostering service.

Barnardo's Scotland Fostering provides training for new foster carers and emphasises the importance of ongoing learning. As carers develop their skills they attain qualifications, such as SVQ or HNC.

The charity supports foster parents every step of the way by providing access to a 24-hour helpline and contributing to the cost of caring for the child through a weekly allowance.

Fiona Bennett, children's services manager at Barnardo's Scotland Fostering in Edinburgh, said fostering was open to people from all walks of life.

She said: "It is ideal if we get people like Jane, but all foster parents really need is a willingness to adjust their lives and learn through what is a challenging but immensely rewarding experience.

"There are many vulnerable children who need warm, loving homes and we would like to encourage families and individuals who enjoy the company of children to consider looking after them.

"Most of the children we place are primary-aged with additional needs and they require a stable family environment where they can be nurtured and supported allowing them to grow up into happy, confident people.

"There is no such thing as a typical foster carer. If you have experience of and enjoy children – contact Barnardo's Scotland to find out more."

In her ten years working for Barnardo's, Fiona has seen the number of children needing the charity's help rise.

And with looming local government budget cuts, she says that now more than ever Barnardo's needs donations to continue its work.

She said: "Without continued donations there will be less money to spend on the fostering service."

CARING ROOTS

BARNARDO'S Scotland has been working in Scotland for more than a century. Its purpose is to help ensure that every child has the best possible start in life. The charity's origins lie in the poverty created by Britain's industrial revolution. The first Barnardo's home was founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1870 in response to the poverty and disease that he saw in London. By 1905, 96 homes had been set up caring for more than 8,500 children. Barnardo's runs more than 60 community-based projects across Scotland.