Children in foster care say security and love are key
It is Fostering Network Scotland’s Foster Care Fortnight 2016.
Children and young people in foster care are calling on people who can provide a safe, supportive and loving home to come forward and consider fostering.
That is according to a new survey conducted to mark the start of The Fostering Network Scotland’s Foster Care Fortnight 2016. 261 care experienced children and young people were asked about a range of issues aimed at identifying what they consider to be the key qualities and skills needed to foster, and about the difference these qualities made to the lives of children living in foster care. This Foster Care Fortnight is highlighting the need for 800 new fostering families to come forward right across Scotland to give loving homes and supportive family environments to children. In particular there is an ongoing need for more foster families to provide homes for teenagers, children with disabilities, and sibling groups. Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network in Scotland, said: "Foster carers across Scotland dedicate their lives to ensuring that children have the chance of the childhood that they deserve.
"Foster families provide children with a home for as long as they need it, and this survey shows that children and young people want stability during their time with a fostering family. "We hope that this Foster Care Fortnight, if you have room in your heart, and in your home, you start your journey towards fostering so that you can make a positive difference to a child.
A positive difference can last a lifetime." Without more foster families coming forward during 2016 some children will find themselves living a long way from family, school and friends, being split up from brothers and sisters, or being placed with a foster carer who does not have the right skills and experience to best meet their specific needs.
There is then a significant risk that a child’s placement will breakdown, further disrupting an already traumatic childhood.
Adam,19, is living with his foster carer in the Central Belt, said: "Foster care saved me and rebuilt me. I was shy, timid and awkward with little life prospects. "Fostering opened the doors to a vast amount of opportunities: allowing me to go to university, allowed me to take up almost every hobby know to the world and allowed me to become a member of The Scout Association." When asked what made a good foster carer, Adam said: "This may sound really silly, but caring.
"There needs to be a passion to deal with these young people who often come from horrific conditions and you need invest time, belief and strength in them.
"It cannot be underestimated the importance of a strong role model on a young person.
"You need the skill of seeing light in times of darkness because these young people will lean on you through some of their lives.’ Nancy Hainey, foster carer in Fife says: "I initially took a six month career break to foster and four years on I’m still fostering.
"Fostering has its ups and its downs but the children bring a sparkle and brighten up my life.
"As well as caring I’m also involved in lots of meetings and groups as it is important not to become isolated.
"You won’t know what fostering is like until you have a child placed in your home and I’d encourage anyone who has room in their home and room in their heart to help make a change in a child’s life. "I had thought about fostering for many years but now I was able to do it as my own kids had gone away to university so I had space to allow me to do it.
"I went on to say that I wished I had done it sooner as it has brought so much joy and love into all our lives.
"The feeling that you can make a difference for each child that comes into your home no matter how big or small....that's what keeps us doing it and enjoying it."