Help Change A Life, foster a child

There has been an 11.2 per cent rise in the number of children in foster care in South Ayrshire over the last five years.

Barnardo’s Scotland is now urging would- be carers to come forward for their Change A Life campaign.

But while South Ayrshire has seen an 11.2 per cent increase in the last five years alone, North Ayrshire has seen a 34.2 per cent rise.

Currently, 129 children are being fostered in South Ayrshire, and more are waiting to find a loving home.

Children may find themselves in care because their parent is sick or they may have experienced abuse or neglect.

Laura Hadley- Stove, Barnardo’s Scotland West manager, is urging any would- be foster carers to come forward and help give these children a loving home.

She said: “Loving foster care is crucial to giving vulnerable children the happy home they so desperately need and deserve.

“However, too many never experience this, because there simply aren’t enough foster carers to go around to care for the most vulnerable youngsters.

“Single or in a couple, black or white, same- sex or heterosexual; we are asking would- be carers across Ayrshire to come forward and help change a child’s life.”

People who foster have told Barnardo’s Scotland it is one of the most important and rewarding experiences they will ever have.

A good foster carer can change a child’s life for the better, throwing them a lifeline of stability and support to build their self- esteem and resilience when they most need it.

Despite this, not enough people come forward to give the most vulnerable children and young people nurturing homes.

Barnardo’s Scotland is reaching out to wouldbe carers who want to provide homes for toddlers and older children, children with a disability and help to keep siblings together.

The charity often finds it more difficult to find homes for siblings who are sometimes, tragically, split up.

The charity makes sure foster carers never ‘ go it alone’, meticulously matching carers to children.

It will also provide any potential carers with specialist foster carer classes and close, on- going, one- on- one help.

For details on how to become a much- needed foster carer, visit www.barnardos.org.uk/changealife or call 0800 0277 280.