The event is taking place as part of a national campaign to encourage people to consider becoming foster carers during Foster Care fortnight (May 12 – 25 May).
Foster carers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but are united by love and empathy and a desire to better the lives of children and young people who cannot be cared for by their families.
Stirling Council provides extensive training and professional development for all foster carers to help them carry out their fostering tasks.
Fostering is often a short-term arrangement lasting a few weeks, but can sometimes be in place for a longer term. Foster carers receive a weekly payment to cover the cost of caring for a child.
Change lives
Convener of Stirling Council’s Children and Young People Committee, Cllr Danny Gibson said: “Stirling’s foster carers change lives by providing the safety, stability and nurture that children need to thrive – and we need more of them.
“We have a strong track record of support to keep children in their communities to be loved with their families.
“However, when the situation becomes desperate and changes, they have a right to live with another family and be given support and nurture that they need.
“Children tell us they want to be safe and know what is going to happen next, and they want positive relationships that are real, loving and consistent.
“By doing something ordinary, you can do something extraordinary for local children and young people who haven’t had the best start in life. Please come along to our drop-in event on Friday to find out more and have an informal chat with our team.”
The Scottish Government’s Foster Care Recruitment Campaign aims to encourage people in Scotland to consider becoming foster carers by focusing on building confidence, showing them that with the right training and support they could provide the stability and a loving foster home a child or young person needs.
Stirling Council’s drop-in event takes place on Friday, May 16 between 12.30pm and 1.30ppm at the Raploch Community Campus
Drop in on the day, call 01786 404040 or email adoption-fostering@stirling.gov.uk for more details.
For more information on fostering in the Stirling area, check out www.stirling.gov.uk/fostering.
For details on the national campaign, visit: https://fostercare.campaign.gov.scot.