27 August 2020

Foster care success stories shared with committee

Children and young people’s positive experiences of foster care were shared with members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee.

An annual report presented to councillors by Foster Team Managers Elaine Dickson and Sara Youngson highlighted the following success stories:

A ten-year-old girl with learning difficulties, poor social skills and who had experienced significant neglect has thrived thanks to the support given by her foster carers. She has learned to tie her shoes, ride a bike without stabilisers and was awarded a certificate for swimming two lengths, an achievement she was incredibly proud of.

A foster carer has provided support for a teenager since 2011. The 17-year-old woman now feels part of her foster care family. She has fundraised towards a school trip to Tanzania to help build houses for local families. Now that she has been granted the ‘right to remain’ and has applied for settled status, she has begun driving lessons and is undertaking sixth year studies with a view to studying at university to become a paramedic.

A-14-year-old boy was placed with foster carers because he was not attending school. The foster carers supported him with adjusting to a local school by completing a part-time timetable focussing on practical subjects and tutoring for Maths and English. His attendance rate is now 100% and his timetable has increased to include more subjects.

Cllr Gillian Owen, Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee chair, said: “As these examples in the report show, foster carers really do make such a positive difference to the lives of children and young people. If you are considering becoming a foster carer, I would encourage you to contact our friendly and supportive team so that you can take your first steps on what is a rewarding and fulfilling journey.”

Committee vice chair Cllr Rosemary Bruce added: “I would like to commend the service for all their hard work over the last year. This report contains many examples of success stories of foster carers helping children and young people achieve both academically but outside the classroom too.”

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or would like an information pack please contact fostering.befriending@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or 01467 532700.

The report is available in full by visiting https://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=494&meetid=19546

You can also watch a webcast of Education and Children’s Services Committee by visiting https://aberdeenshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home