Charity warns that many young people still need loving homes during the lockdown
Barnardo’s says there is still a “real need” to find foster families for children during the coronavirus lockdown.
As Foster Care Fortnight begins, the charity warns that many young people are unable to live with their families and urgently require a loving foster home.
Barnardo’s is now urging people across Scotland who are considering becoming foster carers to contact the charity for information.
Sue Brunton, Barnardo’s Scotland’s assistant director of family placement said: “I have been blown away with the outstanding commitment our foster carers have shown to the children and young people in their care during these unprecedented times. Coronavirus has stopped many things but there is still a very real need to find loving foster families for children and young people.”
Despite the additional challenges posed by the pandemic, Barnardo’s Scotland Fostering has continued to find new foster placements for children. Margaret and David Cardwell, both 69, have recently joined the charity as foster carers and are two weeks in to their first placement.
Margaret, who has almost eight years of foster care experience, said: “We’re delighted we were matched and are able to give a home to a young boy. During this short time with the charity it’s been amazing the amount of people in this wee lad’s life. The support from Barnardo’s fostering has been excellent, the council has been amazing, I’ve never experienced this sort of support before as a foster carer.”
About being a foster carer, Margaret added: “It’s fantastic, but you have to have a lot of compassion, lots of love make the child feel safe and secure. It’s very rewarding too, knowing I’ve helped a child, from doing the smallest of things to watching them achieving their goals it’s an amazing feeling, I wish I’d started fostering years ago.”
Every year hundreds of new foster families are needed in Scotland. Barnardo’s Scotland Fostering works with local authorities across Scotland and stress that they are open and will respond to requests for placements.
Ms Brunton said: “To make sure fostered children can live with the right foster carer for them we do need people across Scotland to contact us.
“Despite the coronavirus, this year is no different; we would love to hear from anyone who thinks they might have the skills and experience to become a foster carer.”
