Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, who has experience of family fostering, is backing the call for people to come forward and make their connection with fostering during The Fostering Network’s annual Foster Care Fortnight Campaign

This year alone, 750 new foster carers are needed right across Scotland to ensure that the rising number of children coming into care can have the best chance of finding a loving foster family who can not only meet their needs, but help them build a positive future.

Over 5,500 children live with almost 4,500 foster families across Scotland each day. There is a particular need for foster carers to look after teenagers, disabled children and sibling groups, with the need for more foster carers meaning that children may end up far from home, be split up from brothers and sisters or lose touch with family and friends.

There are very few barriers to fostering and your local fostering service will provide you all the training and support you need to ensure you can be a foster carer that can change lives. All children are unique, so we need a diverse foster carer population to provide the best home to help each individual child flourish and fulfil their potential.

Mr Thompson said, “I’m thrilled to support Foster Care Fortnight. As each year passes, we see more and more children coming into care, and so we need more people to open their heart, and their homes, to children and young folk who need support at a critical point in their young lives.

“My own son and daughter in-law, who live in South Africa, foster two young girls and have done for the last four years and they regard us as their grandparents.

“A good foster carer will believe in the ambition of the children in their care in the same way they would believe in the ambition of their own family members. A childhood is too short to waster, and foster carers can help those who have not had the best start begin to enjoy their life and grow into the adults that they want to be.

Sue Lurie, Director of the Fostering Network Scotland said, “We are absolutely thrilled that Dave Thompson is supporting this year’s Foster Care Fortnight.

“It shows that they recognise the need to make sure that the children and young people of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch who most need support, love and care have it”.