Nicola Sturgeon attended a meeting hosted by Staf, the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum

The importance of relationships to improving lives has been stressed to Scotland’s first minister.

Nicola Sturgeon met care-experienced young people as well as thoughcare and aftercare workers to hear how essential it is to develop meaningful connections.

She attended a meeting hosted by Staf, the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum, at its base in Glasgow’s Edward House.

The event was part of Staf’s Importance of Relationships project, which saw young people interviewed with a worker who has made a difference in their lives.

Following the meeting, Pamela Graham, Staf’s head of learning and development, said: “It was great to welcome Nicola Sturgeon to our office today to hear directly from both young people and the workers that have supported them about their relationships.

“This meeting is part of Staf’s Importance of Relationships project, which highlights the vital impact of positive relationships in the lives of young people in and leaving care.

“With a root-and-branch review of the care system underway, it is absolutely clear that relationships are key to delivering the better lives we all want to see for young people leaving care.

“Staf is passionate about ensuring that all workers across Scotland have the time, space, and resources to form and maintain the examples of transformative relationships that the First Minister has heard about today.”

James Kerr, a throughcare and aftercare worker at Falkirk Council attended the meeting.

He said: “It’s great that the voice of young people, and workers, is being heard at the highest level of government.

“I know from my own experience that there’s a lot of good work going on in the care system and when we get it right, it’s always relationships that make the difference.”