The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fife-based children’s charity welcomes mentoring scheme
STAR project helps siblings separated in care or adoption to spend time together
The creator of a ground-breaking Scottish charity in Fife, which is trying to prevent siblings put into care from becoming estranged, has welcomed Dundee’s BREAKTHROUGH scheme.
Karen Morrison, 43, who set up North East Fife-based charity STAR (Siblings Together and Reunited) in 2012, said the new BREAKTHROUGH Dundee scheme was a “wonderful idea” which will make a “huge difference” to the lives and future of some of Dundee’s most vulnerable young people.
The former insurance company worker, who grew up in Kingskettle and studied at Cupar’s Bell Baxter High School, set up STAR after her experiences of fostering in Fife.
The mother of two grown up children was shocked when she realised how siblings, already traumatised from being put into care, were becoming estranged from each other through separate foster placements.
The primary aim of STAR is to provide the opportunity for regular, quality, supervised sibling contact for brothers and sisters who are separated in the care system or through adoption.
Run from its unique tranquil farmland setting on the south bank of the River Tay near Newburgh, STAR – which is holding a volunteers open day on October 14 – provides opportunities for siblings to foster emotional bonds and overcome the trauma of separation from parents and siblings whether it be by growing fruit together, listening to stories in a special wigwam, playing in the forest or on the beach, or helping care for the charity’s animals.
So when Karen heard that BREAKTHROUGH Dundee had been launched in Dundee last week, she was particularly pleased to hear that the project will provide a stable point of contact for the young people involved.
She said: “I think it’s a wonderful idea and will make a huge difference to the lives and futures of our vulnerable young people.
“We see the benefits here at STAR with such a high one-to-one ratio.
“Our volunteer supervisors are wonderful and just being there for a child or young person, listening to them and believing in them can make such a life changing difference and a huge impact on the choices they make in life.”
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I think it’s a wonderful idea and will makeahuge difference to the lives and futures of our vulnerable young people.
STAR’S KAREN MORRISON