Vital contribution of all foster families in Highland highlighted during coronavirus

11th May 2020

Every day 130 foster families across Highland are giving approximately 150 fostered children and young people a loving, secure and stable home, and this commitment from foster families is ongoing during the COVID-19 Emergency.

The UK's leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, is using this year's Foster Care FortnightTM to raise awareness of the extraordinary dedication and work of foster carers at this time, while calling for more people to come forward to foster.

The charity's campaign to raise the profile of foster carers and the vital role they play in society is the largest of its kind in the UK and runs from 11-24 May.

Foster carers accomplish incredible things every day, even in the face of a global crisis that has affected every one of us and impacted all aspects of our society. Despite the practical and emotional challenges that the coronavirus is bringing, foster carers continue to provide day-to-day support, love and stability to children and young people who can't live with their birth families. They support children and young people's education, health, and social wellbeing, and also help to maintain the children’s relationship with the people who are important to them but who they cannot currently see in person.

Every year more foster carers are needed across Highland to make sure fostered children can live with the right foster carer for them. Despite the coronavirus outbreak, this year is no different, so anyone who thinks they might have the skills and experience to become a foster carer is urged to contact their local fostering services and registering their interest here.

Councillor Linda Munro, Chair of Highland Council’s Corporate Parenting Board, said: "Foster carers across the Highland area are doing incredible work to protect and support our children and young people. During the current emergency, it can be easy to overlook the vital role that foster carers contribute to the community so Foster Care Fortnight allows us to focus on foster families and actively recognise their ongoing hard work and dedication".

Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: ‘Foster care transforms the lives of children and young people as well as those of the foster carers and their families. This has never been more important. Foster carers help children and young people flourish and fulfil their potential, as well as provide a vital service to our society. Because this happens mainly in the privacy of their own homes - especially at the moment - their contributions too often go unnoticed.

‘Foster Care Fortnight is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the work of foster carers and their families as well as recognising how transformational foster care can be for the children and young people who need it.’

To find out how you can support Foster Care Fortnight, go to The Fostering Network - https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/fcf20

For information about becoming a foster carer, please visit Fostering with The Highland Council
https://www.highland.gov.uk/fosteringandadoption/