Sports stars come out to support Foster Care Fortnight

Superstars from the world of sport have thrown their support behind foster carers this Foster Care Fortnight (1 – 14 June) and called for people to come forward to see if they have the skills needed to foster.

Scotland’s Minister for Children and Young People, Fiona McLeod has also written to all foster carers, thanking them for the huge difference they make to the lives of vulnerable children.

Gabby Logan, television presenter and journalist, is a long-time supporter of the Fostering Network’s Foster Care Fortnight campaign, and she said: “Foster carers are incredible people who dedicate their lives to vulnerable children, but throughout the country there are still many teenagers, disabled children and sibling groups who need a loving home. I am always proud to support The Fostering Network’s Foster Care Fortnight campaign, because I am always proud to support foster carers and the work that they do for our society.

“If you think you have the skills to make a difference to the life of a child and help to ensure that they are on a positive path in life, contact your local fostering service this Foster Care Fortnight.”

Golfer Darren Clarke (above) , and Olympic gold medallists Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent, are some of the other sporting heroes to back this year’s campaign. You can check out their placard pictures, and those of all the other celebrities who have backed the campaign, on the website.

James Foyle, Foster Care Fortnight coordinator, said: “We’re thrilled that these world renowned people from the world of sport have taken the time to recognise the valuable contribution of foster carers to society.

“The support comes on the day that 600 hardy fundraisers will take to the streets and fields of Blaenau Gwent, Gloucestershire, Llanelli, London, Neath Port Talbot, Magherafelt, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Richmond, Yorkshire and Swansea in aid of The Fostering Network. This year’s Foster Walks have received an unprecedented amount of people coming out to support The Fostering Network, and each entrant deserves a gold medal themselves!”

The Fostering Network brings together everyone who is involved in the lives of fostered children and young people to lead, inspire, motivate and support them to make foster care better. To support our work visit www.fostering.net/donate or to donate £10 text FOST37 £10 to 70070.

Also in support of the Fostering Network’s Foster Care Fortnight awareness raising campaign, the Minister for Children and Young People, Fiona McLeod has written to all foster carers in Scotland, thanking them for the huge difference they make to the lives of vulnerable children:

Dear Foster Carer

The Minister for Children and Young People, Aileen Campbell wrote to foster carers on 19 May 2014 expressing her gratitude for the dedication and commitment you make on a daily basis to caring for the needs of some of our most vulnerable children and young people.

In my position as Acting Minister for Children and Young People, I would very much like to reinforce that message to you all. I would also like to take this opportunity, especially at the start of the Foster Care Fortnight awareness raising campaign, to update you on recent policy improvements that will positively impact on you in your role as foster carers and also on the lives of the children you care for

FOSTER CARE REVIEW

Some of you may already be aware that a national review of foster care took place during 2013 and you can read the final report and the Scottish Government response to that review and each of the recommendations which was published on 23 January 2014.

Between August 2014 and March 2015 we have been taking forward a programme of work aimed at seeing the majority of the recommendations implemented into practice and I am pleased to report that some substantial pieces of work have now been concluded. You can read our latest progress update which also provides you with some links that you may find of interest.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (SCOTLAND) ACT 2014

You may already be aware that the new Act, from 1 April 2015, allows 16 year olds, to remain with their foster carers up to the age of 21 should they request it, and when they are ready to leave their continuing care placement, they will also be entitled to aftercare support up to the age of 26, to offer a more gradual transition to independent living. This is much more in line with the experiences of their non-looked after peers. These benefits were enthusiastically welcomed by the care sector and young people.

A number of consultation events are about to take place specifically targeting Foster Carers to allow them to discuss & clarify the guidance for Part 10 Aftercare & Part 11 Continuing Care. This will give them the opportunity to influence the final guidance and discuss any issues that it raises for them. The events will also help Foster Carers understand when they might consider a Continuing Care placement for a young person placed with them and what this means.

As you may appreciate, there has been a substantial amount of work carried out in recent months to develop guidance for the care sector on how these new provisions will work in practice. We have in recent months been undertaking a series of meetings and events aimed at providing service managers, practitioners and young people with the opportunity to provide us with their views on the draft Continuing Care and Aftercare guidance. In May we held events with a particular focus on foster care. We hope to be in a position to publish the guidance in the summer.

Our aims are to ensure that young people are not discharged from care before they feel ready, improve the planning and preparation that is required when they do decide to leave care and also provide young people with a better package of support after they move into their own living arrangements.

GUIDANCE ON DECISION MAKING FOR FOSTER CARERS

I would like to let you know about another piece of work being undertaken to support you in your role. The Scottish Government have commissioned Scottish Child Law Centre to develop guidance that will assist foster carers understand their legal position on everyday decisions they need to make about the children they care for. This will cover e.g. haircuts, medication, bank accounts, holidays as well as many other circumstances that arise on a daily basis. The guidance is expected to be finalised soon and we hope to publish this guidance in the summer. We will bring this to your attention at the time.

THE FOSTERING NETWORK

You may find it helpful to know that the Fostering Network provide advice and guidance to foster carers on a wide variety of issues relating to fostering and Fosterline Scotland is a confidential helpline that you can access Monday to- Friday between 10 am and 4 pm on 0141 204 1400 or via e-mail to fosterlinescotland@fostering.net should you require support on any issue.

I do hope this update is useful to you and again, thank you to you and your families for providing support for the children and young people you care for and helping them to achieve their full potential.

With my heartfelt thanks

FIONA MCLEOD

Getting in shape for marathon charity match

Craig Gowans team plans world record attempt at Spartans

The football season may now be over, but friends, family and teammates of the late Falkirk midfielder Craig Gowans have embarked on a gruelling training regime in preparation for their challenge: to break the Guinness World Record for the longest 11-a-side football match!

The mega-match, which will take place from 4 – 8 July at Ainslie Park, home of Spartans FC, will raise money for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation on behalf of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund, a fund set up by Craig’s family and friends following his tragic death to ensure that his memory is used as a driving force for good.

Craig, a former pupil of Daniel Stewarts and Melville College, died during training when a 20ft long pole used for transportable nets came into contact with power lines. Craig, who was 17, had signed his professional contract with the club just two weeks before the accident.

Since the charity was formed in April 2007, it has raised over £80,000, supporting charities such as the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), the Sick Kids Friends Foundation and the Chesney Trust. The fund has also contributed towards building state-of-the-art educational facilities for children and young adults in places such as Malawi.

With each player running the equivalent of at least two marathons every twenty-four hours, the Guinness World Record attempt will be the most demanding challenge to date. The final few months of the training regime, and the attempt in July will be a real test of discipline and commitment for all players involved.

The two 18-man squads hope to raise over £37,000 (Craig’s professional number being 37 at Falkirk). The money raised will be used to fund enhancements to the new Sick Kids hospital at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France, specifically a state-of-the-art Snoezelen room in Craig’s name, a calming room with multi-sensory equipment to provide a relaxing and stimulating space for children with sensory impairments.

The Craig Gowans World Record already has the support of high profile football associations and charities such as the Scottish Football Association, Football Aid, The Sick Kids Friends Foundation and the Hibernian Football Community.

A number of celebrities will also take part in the event, including ex-Scotland boss and current FC Genk Manager, Alex McLeish.

The Craig Gowans Guinness World Record Committee is a group of Craig’s school friends, Jonny Wallace, Dario Alonzi, Chris O’Shea and Eoghan Molloy who are working hard to ensure that the event is as successful as it can be and raise as much awareness as possible. The group launched the event at their flagship dinner on 28 March at Stewarts Melville school. The committee have so far raised over £22,000 and are hoping to smash their target.

The teams are looking for more volunteers to get involved in the event, at all levels. Anyone who would like to get involved in the World Record attempt can get in touch through:

the website www.tcggwrm.org

Twitter www.twitter.com/TCGGWRM37

and on Facebook www.facebook.com/TCGGWRM

Donations can be made via JustGiving www.justgiving.com/teams/worldrecord

For more info contact Jonny Wallace at TCGGWRM37@gmail.com

Step out to support people living with dementia

‘Dementia is a huge, growing health crisis and it isn’t going to go away’ – Anna Devine, Alzheimer Scotland

AS the number of people living with dementia in Scotland continues to rise, Alzheimer Scotland is set to deliver its biggest-ever Memory Walk series in a bid to rally support for people living with dementia in communities across the country.

“There are over 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland, and tens of thousands of unpaid carers, often partners and family members, supporting them,” said a spokesperson.

Alzheimer Scotland will hold over 25 Memory Walks in Scotland this autumn to raise vital funds to deliver support services and raise awareness of the discrimination, isolation and stigmatisation faced every day by people living with dementia.

There will be walks from Scalloway in Shetland to Hawick in the Borders –starting late August and finishing in early October.

Anna Devine, director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, said: “Dementia is a huge, growing health crisis and it isn’t going to go away.

“We must rally our caring and compassionate communities across Scotland to be part of our Memory Walks and embrace the message that dementia is everyone’s business.

“It costs Alzheimer Scotland millions every year to deliver vital services across Scotland. To sustain that support as the demand for our services increases, we need to raise more funds and more awareness.”

All funds raised will be used to help pay for vital Alzheimer Scotland dementia services across Scotland such as the 24-hour dementia helpline, dementia advisors, dementia nurses and dementia research.

Funds will also support important local activities, such as Dementia Cafés, support groups, singing and gardening groups.

Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walks are family friendly and accessible to all, and will be the charity’s primary outdoor fundraiser in 2015.

Memory Walks are also a significant part of Alzheimer Scotland’s campaign to ensure the voices of those living with and caring for people with dementia are heard.

Walks will include memories-themed and family activities and walkers will have the chance to honour loved ones by writing messages on a Memory Wall.

Registration is £10 for adults, £5 for 12-16 year-olds and free for under-12s. We’re asking participants to raise £100 in sponsorship.

Visit www.MemoryWalksScotland.org to find out more and to register.

http://www.memorywalksscotland.org