A new recruitment campaign to help find more foster carers has been launched to mark the start of Foster Care Fortnight (12-26 May 2025), and people across Dumfries and Galloway are being encouraged to consider if they could provide a safe, supportive foster home for a child or young person.
The Scottish Government campaign, which was announced by First Minister John Swinney aims to support the recruitment of more Local Authority foster carers and raise awareness of the benefits of fostering, encouraging people in Dumfries and Galloway to consider if they could support a child or young person in the care system.
The Fostering Network estimates that Scotland needs at least 400 additional foster carers.
The campaign highlights how the ‘ordinary’ – from eating together, to watching TV together – can be extraordinary in the life of a child in foster care.
Councilor Pauline Drysdale, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Social Work Services Committee commented: “Fostering is a hugely important part of helping local children find comfort and security in the ordinary moments, close to home. With a full enrolment and training programme in place through our Fostering and Adoption Team, anyone over the age of 21 with the free space to accommodate a foster child can come forward and make a real difference to the life of a local young person looking for a safe place to stay.
“Dumfries and Galloway is a beautiful place to grow up, and finding local people of all backgrounds who can open their homes to children from the region who are in need of a place to stay means a world of difference to that child; it’s the difference between possibly having to relocate to an unfamiliar area, and being able to stay close to the people, places and spaces they know and cherish.”
Sarah Bennett, who has been a foster carer for 14 years said “People often speak about how foster caring changes children’s lives, but he’s changed our lives completely. Every child needs a safe, loving environment, and somebody in their corner to fight for them, advocate for them, and think they’re the best thing since sliced bread. If you can do that by becoming a foster carer, the rewards can be huge. It’s an amazing experience, there are lows as well as highs, of course, but my family and I have learned so much about ourselves as people. It’s been so positive for us”.
As he met foster carers at the new campaign launch, the First Minister said:
“Foster carers play a vital role supporting and providing safe and loving foster homes to children and young people. They are key to our ambition of delivering The Promise by 2030.
“Across Scotland, foster carers provide stability, care and connection to support children and young people to thrive.
“Our campaign importantly focuses on how the everyday ‘ordinary’ can be extraordinary for a child in foster care. Fostering can be transformational for a child or young person and by stepping forward, foster carers offer not just a home, but the relationships and support that help shape brighter futures.”
Anne Currie, Assistant Director for Scotland at The Fostering Network, said:
“We welcome the launch of the Scottish Government’s national campaign to recruit foster carers, and hope this leads to more people stepping forward Dumfries and Galloway to become foster carers in Scotland, and raises awareness of the vital role fostering plays. The need has never been more urgent – as over 350 foster carers leave each year, it’s critical that we take action now.”
The campaign will run across TV, radio, digital and press throughout May and June. A new website and dedicated advice line have been launched to support those interested in finding out more.
For more information on how to become a foster carer, visit www.gov.scot/fostercare or ring the Fosterline service on 0141 204 1400.
Background
Fostering is open to people of all ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, genders, and family structures. Foster carers do not need any specific qualifications, and don’t need to have children of their own.
The ‘Ordinary can be extraordinary for a child in foster care’ campaign runs for four weeks across TV, video on demand, radio and press, and for seven weeks across digital channels.
More information on becoming a foster carer can be found at www.gov.scot/fostercare
