Fostering Charity’s Urgent Call For Scottish Foster Carers

  • An acute shortage of foster carers in Scotland is pointing to a care emergency
  • Children as young as three years old are being placed in residential homes
  • TACT Fostering, the UK’s largest dedicated fostering charity, is calling on the government and all fostering providers to take urgent action

A recent statement issued by Scotland’s thirty-two Chief Social Work Officers has highlighted an acute shortage of available fostering homes in Scotland, with children as young as three being placed in residential homes.

Whilst a shortage of foster carers across the UK has been a long-standing issue, children under five years of age being placed in residential homes alongside much older young people is alarming. Local authority foster carers are historically approached first for very young children. Therefore children being housed in residential homes is less about a change of approach for local authorities, and more about a decrease in foster carers generally.

This should be triggering an urgent ‘call to action’ for the government and fostering providers to increase carer recruitment efforts.

Andy Elvin, TACT Fostering CEO and Chair of The Fairer Fostering Partnership, an umbrella group of charitable fostering providers, said: “With the recent statement issued by Scotland’s thirty-two Chief Social Work Officers with regards to the acute shortage of available fostering homes, it is clear that this is a care emergency. Children as young as three being placed in residential homes isn’t acceptable or in the best interests of children.

“Here at TACT Fostering, we’ve introduced a number of financial wellbeing initiatives to help make fostering viable for more people. We’ve also introduced our ‘making spaces’ program centred around increasing our carers’ spare bedroom capacity to provide additional care, particularly to help bring siblings together.

“However, we do need more action at a governmental level as a matter of urgency to bring more people to fostering across Scotland. We would happily work with our Scottish local authority colleagues and the Scottish government in a national foster carer recruitment effort.

“It is clear that we need to work together in concert to address this emergency. The new legislation requiring that all Independent Fostering Providers are charities is an excellent opportunity to promote fostering across Scotland.”

Whilst the initial response needs to be finding suitable foster homes for under fives that are being placed in residential environments, local authorities and independent fostering providers need to prioritise carer recruitment strategies.

Organisations should also be looking to nurture and upskill their current foster carers, where possible.

Moving forward, it does seem that there needs to be a general change in the way local authorities approach the foster carer/family finding process for under fives and, in fact, all young people. Most independent fostering providers prepare and nurture their foster carers to match the care need in each region, and usually this does not include very young children.

If all requests for care were to call on both in-house local authority and external agency carers simultaneously, with the ‘best match’ being the goal in every scenario, all fostering providers would be in a better position to respond to care emergencies such as this.

Ultimately it would help to create a wider pool of foster carers able to care for children of all ages and with differing needs.

Find out more about fostering: 

https://tactfostering.org.uk/location/fostering-in-scotland/

Joanne Smith, NSPCC Scotland policy and public affairs manager, said: “It is deeply concerning to hear from social work professionals that Scotland’s care system is in a state of emergency. The situations they describe highlight how overstretched the system has become.   

“Every child who cannot live safely at home must have access to safe, consistent, nurturing and responsive care as early as possible. We have overwhelming evidence that failing to provide timely, high-quality care for children who have experienced early adversity can have devastating and lifelong consequences. 

“The acute shortage of suitable homes and carers means that babies and children are left in unsafe, unstable, or inappropriate situations that harm their wellbeing immediately and can have lasting effects on their mental health, relationships and life chances. 

 “This must be a turning point. We need urgent action to increase the number of suitable foster placements, ensure better support for professionals and carers, and invest in early help so that fewer families reach crisis point in the first place.   

“The Scottish Government has committed to keeping The Promise. To deliver its ambitions we must see much greater recognition that how we treat children at the start of their care journey could massively impact their life chances. Without immediate and sustained investment, we risk failing those children who are most vulnerable and need our protection the most.” 

Scottish Book Trust donates books and toys to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity

Scottish Book Trust has delivered books and toys to young patients at The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. 

The national reading and writing charity donated twenty of their popular Squishy Bookbug Reading Cushions, which are normally sold through Scottish Book Trust’s online shop to raise funds for the charity. 

These squishy cushions will be given to young patients, allowing them to enjoy books and Bookbug sessions in comfort during their hospital stay.  

Scottish Book Trust also donated two boxes of brand-new books for children and young people to enjoy while at the hospital. These included engaging stories for primary school ages and flap books for early years. Books are so popular at the Hospital that donations always go quickly. 

The supplies were distributed with the help of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, which supports the children who are admitted to the children’s hospital at Little France, and their families. 

With support from Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity has been running Bookbug Sessions in the Hospital Hub and on the wards to share stories, songs and rhymes with the children during their stay. These sessions are loved by children, young people and their families.  

In this National Year of Reading, it’s more important than ever to promote the power of reading to children, and to inspire them through a love of stories and songs. 

Catriona McIntyre, Arts and Wellbeing Manager at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity said: ‘Scottish Book Trust supports families within the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in a huge variety of ways. 

“The books that are so kindly donated help moments of connection during challenging times, supports bedtime routines, aids imagination and curiosity. Books are such an important part of our Wellbeing Hub, highlighting that this is a space for fun and enjoyment, just for them. 

‘Bookbug is incredibly popular and ECHC is delighted to be able to host such a familiar event for families that would normally be going to in their local libraries and bring a little piece of normality.

“Our Bookbug sessions are facilitated by our lovely volunteer, Alison. Alison’s sessions have been such a hit in the hospital that she recently won a Volunteer Edinburgh Inspiring Volunteer Awards for her work volunteering in The Hub.’ 

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘We were delighted to be able to donate our Bookbug reading cushions and books to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, and we are pleased to hear just how much enjoyment they will give children and young people who have been admitted to hospital. 

‘Book gifting is a vital part of our mission at Scottish Book Trust. We aim to help everyone in Scotland access books and all the benefits they bring through reading and writing. All proceeds from our shop help fund our charity to do more of its life-changing work.’ 

Holyrood: Have your say on Public Service Reform

With the Scottish Government aiming to deliver average savings of £0.5bn a year to public services over the next three years, Holyrood’s Public Service Reform Committee is seeking views on how achievable the proposed public sector reforms are.

The Committee has today launched a consultation asking how barriers to progress with reform can be overcome; how preventative approaches to spending can be promoted; and how the delivery of public services can be simplified.

As part of its pre-budget scrutiny work, the Committee will also consider whether there is sufficient clarity around how front-line roles, which are to be protected, are defined.

Speaking as the call for views launched, Committee Convener Bob Doris MSP, said: “A Spending Review demanding £1.5bn worth of public sector efficiencies, lays bare the need for us to understand the detail of how these savings are to be made and fundamentally, how they will shape public service delivery.

“Funds designated for prevention must also be put to good use and the simplification of services must lead to positive outcomes for both the provision of services and expenditure.

“We’d like to hear from those who lead, deliver, and rely on public services about what steps can be taken to remove barriers to more progress with reform, support preventative approaches, and ensure that efficiencies do not undermine frontline delivery.

“Our scrutiny will help shape the Scottish Budget before it is finalised, so contributions at this stage are especially valuable.”

The Committee is keen to hear from leaders in the public sector; community planning partnerships; trade unions; academics and think tanks; third sector representatives and staff who deliver services within or on behalf of the public sector.

The call for views closes on Friday 14 August 2026 after which the Committee plans to take oral evidence, before reporting to Parliament late October/early November this year.

Read the questions and submit your views on Citizen Space

QUESTIONS

  1. The Scottish Government aims to deliver on average £0.5 billion in savings through efficiencies per year for the next three years (2026-27 to 2028-29): 
    1. To what extent are these savings achievable, and how will they shape public service delivery? 
       
    2. What progress is being made towards achieving these efficiencies? 
       
    3. What are the barriers to achieving greater efficiency and how can these be addressed? 
  2. How should the Scottish Government best present the extent of any realised efficiencies in the annual budget publication, including providing clarity on whether these are expected to be recurring savings? 
     
  3. The Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan aims to achieve an average reduction of the public sector workforce of 0.5% per year over five years.
    1. To what extent is this target achievable and how will it shape public service delivery?  
    2. What progress is being made towards achieving this target?
  4. What actions can the Scottish Government take to ensure these workforce reductions are delivered in a managed way which best supports effective government and public service delivery?
     
  5. The PSR strategy states that it will protect frontline services. To what extent is there sufficient clarity about how frontline roles are defined and how efficiencies in back-office functions can be delivered in a way that minimises impact on the delivery of public services? 
     
  6. Beyond the financial benefits that the Public Sector Reform (PSR) Strategy aims to achieve, what are the key outcomes that reform should be aiming for? 
     
  7. The PSR Strategy includes 18 different workstreams which aim to remove barriers to reform.  One workstream focuses on “simplification”, recognising that “complexity of processes, structures and reporting requirements is a key barrier to effective and efficient service delivery”. “Prevention” is one of three pillars providing structure to the Strategy.
    1. What should the Scottish Government’s priorities be under its simplification workstream and what level of savings can be achieved through this approach? 
       
    2. What progress has been made to date with preventative budgeting?
       
    3. How should the forthcoming Budget support greater progress towards preventative budgeting across the devolved public sector? Please set out any barriers and how these can be addressed. 
    4. What changes to the Scottish Government’s approach to budget-setting are needed to effectively deliver public service reform? 
  8. The Scottish Government included an upfront Invest to Save Fund of around £30 million in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 Scottish Budgets for reform projects that will deliver ongoing savings and support the delivery of the PSR strategy.  
    1. To what extent is the Invest to Save Fund delivering projects that achieve ongoing savings?  
       
    2. How are successful outcomes from this Fund being shared more widely across the public sector? 

Edinburgh attractions back Great British Summer Savings

  • Families across the UK are benefiting from reduced VAT on ticket prices as part of the Great British Summer Savings.
  • Cinemas, soft plays and theme parks are among the attractions where the savings will be passed on.
  • Businesses will also benefit from increased footfall during the summer holidays.

Attractions across Edinburgh and the east of Scotland are embracing the UK Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme – making family days out more affordable.

The initiative, which cut VAT from 20% to 5% on children’s tickets on a variety of attractions and days out, and on children’s menu meals in restaurants, is now in operation and will run until 1 September.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said: “Now schools are out for the summer across the east of Scotland, we want families to make the most of their time together.

“That’s why this summer, the UK Government is cutting the cost of a family day out with the Great British Summer Savings VAT reduction – helping families across the UK make the most of the summer break.

“Businesses will also feel the benefits with increased visitor numbers and more people discovering the wonderful range of activities and attractions we have throughout Scotland and the whole of the UK.

“Too many parents feel they have to hold back on treats or days out together because of cost of living pressures so the UK Government is slashing the VAT on a range of kids’ activities so families can afford more time together.”

One Edinburgh attraction supporting the savings for families is Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, which has already refunded the price difference to 1200 pre-paid tickets.

Tony Millar, Camera Obscura and World of Illusion’s manager, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the Great British Summer Savings initiative and to pass the benefit directly on to visitors. The summer holidays are an important time for families to make memories together, but we know the cost of days out can add up. 

“By passing on the VAT reduction and reducing our ticket prices over the summer, we hope to make it easier for families, tourists and local visitors to enjoy a fun, memorable and great-value day out in the heart of Edinburgh.”

The VAT rate on eligible activities will be cut from 20% to 5% and applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The reduced rate will apply to:

  • Children’s menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises;
  • Children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions;
  • Admission tickets, for both children and adults, to a range of attractions, including: amusement parks, fairs, museums, zoos, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions.

This money-saving package supports families, while also supporting businesses through increased footfall. The government expects businesses to pass on VAT savings to customers.

Guidance for businesses in scope of the policy has been published by HMRC which outlines how businesses can operate the scheme.

For more information, see HM Treasury’s press release.

Teenage robber to appear in court

DESPICABLE THEFTS FROM ELDERLY WOMEN

A teenager has been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery of two elderly women in Edinburgh.

Around 2.10pm on Sunday, 14 June, a 93-year-old woman was approached by a man on Stevenson Road and robbed of jewellery.

A second incident happened during the same afternoon in Shandon Place, where a 78-year-old woman was approached, asked for directions, and subsequently robbed of jewellery.

A 17-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with both incidents. He was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday – Friday, 3 July, 2026.

Detective Constable Lindsay Johnston said: “I would like to thank those members of the public who assisted the victims at the time and for their support during our investigation.

“As a direct result of our public appeal into the Stevenson Road incident, a second complainer came forward to report what happened to them in extremely similar circumstances in the Shandon Place area.

“We remain committed to tackling crimes of dishonesty and bring offenders before the courts.”

Broughton High School pupils create films for festival spotlight

Queen Margaret University (QMU) is celebrating the success of a dynamic filmmaking initiative that has opened up the world of cinema to Edinburgh secondary school pupils – empowering them to develop their skills, build confidence and premiere their own short films.

Delivered in partnership with leading film and education organisations, Our Cinema’s 2026 ‘Children Meet Cinema’ workshop brought together S2–S3 pupils from Broughton High School for an intensive two-week programme.

Through a series of hands-on workshops, pupils developed skills in storytelling, filming and editing, culminating in the production of three original short films – set to premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival this August.

The initiative reflects QMU’s commitment to widening access to creative education and supporting young people to develop confidence, skills and new ways of expressing their ideas. By working directly with experienced practitioners, pupils gained first-hand insight into the creative industries and the collaborative nature of filmmaking.

Produced by Scottish arts community Transgressive North, and jointly led by Robert Munro, QMU Senior Lecturer in Film and Media, and Jamie Chambers, Senior Lecturer in Film, from Edinburgh College of Art, the initiative has involved collaboration with creatives and educators across Scotland’s screen and education sectors, including independent filmmaker Duncan Cowles, and Maili Fraser from Edinburgh Filmhouse.

The programme was further enriched by mentorship from acclaimed director Scott Graham, who helped shape a series of practical exercises designed to guide pupils through every stage of the filmmaking journey.

Robert Munro said: “Creative projects like this are about opening up the world of cinema to young people and showing them that their stories matter.

“It’s been inspiring to see the creativity, enthusiasm and teamwork shown by the pupils at Broughton High School over the past two weeks. This kind of experience can be genuinely transformative – helping young people see new possibilities for themselves and their future.”

Nicola Daniel, Curriculum Leader of the English and Media Faculty at Broughton High School, was impressed with the impact that this creative film project had on both pupils and staff.

She explained: “Being part of this project was one of the most uplifting creative experiences of my career. Working alongside such talented practitioners brought a richness and authenticity to the process that the young people immediately responded to.

“The project opened up the full world of film for them – from shaping ideas and storyboarding to camera work, sound, editing, and performance – and their enthusiasm was nothing short of infectious.”

Nicola added: “Watching the young people take risks, collaborate with maturity, and produce films that were imaginative, polished and deeply personal was extraordinary. The final showcase was a moment of genuine pride – a celebration of their talent, their resilience, and the transformative power of creative partnership.”

What stood out most for the teaching staff was the impact on learners’ confidence and voice.

Nicola explained: “Alongside developing technical skills, the pupils grew in self-belief, communication and creative thinking, with many discovering new strengths in leadership and storytelling.

“The project also offered staff fresh insight into pupils’ abilities and highlighted the value of working in partnership with universities and industry. Film‑making brings together creativity, teamwork and critical thinking in a uniquely accessible way, and this collaboration showed just how powerful that can be in raising aspiration and helping young people feel seen and heard.”

Lead Filmmaker Scott Graham added: “The ‘Children Meet Cinema’ project gives me hope for the future of filmmaking in Scotland.

“The young filmmakers from Broughton High School took the creative freedom we gave them and ran with it. They were a joy and an inspiration to work with and I can’t wait for their films to be unveiled at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. Their work deserves to be presented on the biggest stage.”

Robert Munro concluded: “We’re now excited to share the pupils’ films with audiences at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Monday 17 August. Showcasing their work on an international stage is a remarkable achievement and a powerful celebration of their creativity and hard work.”

QMU would like to thank the young people who took part, the staff at Broughton High School for their support, and St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church for providing space for the workshops. The project was inspired by Japan’s Children Meet Cinema, and the team would like to thank Etsuko Dohi for all her support.

The project was supported by funding from Queen Margaret University’s research impact and widening access funds.

Book tickets for the Edinburgh Film Festival at edfilmfest.org .

World War One soldier laid to rest on the eve of the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Private (Pte) Robert Leonard Lock, from Littleport, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, buried in France today, on the eve of the first day of the battle in which he was killed. Identification was made through DNA testing nearly 110 years after he went missing in action

Pte Robert Leonard Lock, of 12th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry, was laid to rest on the Somme on Monday (30 June 2026) at a burial service organised by MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘War Detectives’. 

The service took place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s CWGC)  Warlencourt British Cemetery.  

The burial service almost coincided with the 110th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme which saw British and French forces attack on the morning of 1 July 1916. The date is the bloodiest in British military history, with 57,000 casualties sustained. The fighting continued until 18 November 1916 and would ultimately result in 420,000 Commonwealth casualties, 200,000 French casualties and 450,000 German casualties. 

JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron said: “It has been a privilege to have seen Pte Lock laid to rest today in the presence of his family. It has been especially poignant as this marks the start of commemorations of the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. 

“The story of Pte Lock reminds us that although the focus and narrative of the battle is on the high number of casualties killed or wounded, these men were not statistics, and each soldier and family affected have their own individual stories to tell. Pte Lock’s story has now been brought to a conclusion.”  

Pte Lock’s remains were discovered in 2022 as a farmer ploughed his field near Le Sars. DNA testing, coordinated by JCCC, confirmed his identity. His great nephew, Anthony Wright, attended with his sons. The service was also attended by Roland Lock who, as the first cousin once removed of Pte Lock, provided a DNA sample. 

Anthony Wright said: “We’re incredibly thankful to the JCCC for the great work they do so that Robert can be properly laid to rest and for giving us the opportunity to be there at the burial. Whilst it is incredibly sad, we are still very proud of the sacrifice that Robert made to protect our freedom.

Members of the Lock family at the graveside with Reverend Stephen Cassels CF (Crown Copyright)

Pte Lock, a farm labourer from Cambridgeshire, was posted to 12th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry. 

On 7 October 1916, the battalion attacked the sunken road southeast of Le Sars and Pte Lock was among men who occupied a trench position known as the Tangle: the same location where his remains were found.

By the end of the day, the sunken road had been captured and the battalion consolidated their positions. One officer was killed, another was missing and 31 other ranks were killed and 86 wounded. Pte Lock was amongst the casualties. He was 20 years old. 

The service was supported by serving soldiers from The Rifles and was also attended by serving members of the German and Belgian military. The service was conducted by the Reverend Stephen Cassells CF, Chaplain to 2nd Battalion The Rifles.  

Private Lock was carried to his grave by serving soldiers of The Rifles (Crown Copyright)

Reverend Stephen Cassells CF said: “It is a privilege to play a small but important part to ensure a dignified and proper burial of a soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“Though over one hundred years have transitioned since his passing, it is fitting that those of antecedent regiments to his own have united to lay one of their own to rest. “Greater love has no one than this, that a person lay down their life for their friends”. John 15:13. In eternal memorial.”

The grave of Pte Lock will now be cared for by the CWGC in perpetuity.

Vice Admiral Peter Hudson CB CBE, Vice Chairman of the CWGC, attended the service and said: “The reburial of Private Robert Leonard Lock, on the eve of the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, is a powerful reminder of the human cost of that campaign.

“For more than a century he lay unknown, but today we are able to restore him to his rightful place among his comrades of the Durham Light Infantry.

“Through the dedication of many, and the support of his family, we ensure that his sacrifice is recognised, and that he is remembered not simply as one of the fallen, but as an individual, known and honoured once more.”

Artist-in-residence programme inspires next generation of creatives at Merchiston Castle School

Pupils gain rare insight into life as a professional artist through year-long residency

Pupils at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh have spent the past year working alongside acclaimed Scottish artist Robbie Bushe RSA through a unique artist-in-residence programme, gaining a behind-the-scenes insight into how a professional artist works.

The year-long residency culminated in the unveiling of a major new artwork inspired by the school community at a special exhibition attended by pupils, parents, alumni and leading arts patron Richard Demarco, founder of the Richard Demarco Gallery.

Throughout the year, Robbie worked from a studio space within the school’s Faculty of Technologies & Creative Arts, giving pupils the opportunity to see a large-scale work of art evolve from initial sketch to finished piece, and to experience first-hand how ideas are brought to life.

At a time when creative subjects face increasing pressure in schools, the residency reflects Merchiston’s belief that the arts help young people build confidence, think independently and see the world differently. As technology and artificial intelligence continue to reshape the workplace, skills such as creativity, problem-solving and adaptability are becoming increasingly important.

Robbie joined the school in October 2025 and invited pupils and members of the wider school community to contribute drawings, stories, memories and imagined futures for the school, many of which helped shape the final work.

Polly Prosser, Lead Teacher of Art & Design at Merchiston Castle School, said: “The art and design curriculum encourages pupils to engage directly with artists and artworks, but nothing compares to seeing that process unfold in front of you every day.

“The boys have seen every stage of the journey with Robbie and our small class sizes have meant every pupil has had the chance to speak with him, ask questions and share ideas. It’s been fantastic to see how much they’ve taken from the experience.”

Among them was Chester, a pupil originally from Hong Kong, who incorporated elements of Robbie’s approach into his own coursework, drawing inspiration from his use of storytelling, architecture and memory.

He said: “Through my conversations with Robbie Bushe, I became interested in how different moments in time can exist simultaneously within one image.

“His detailed cityscapes and narrative approach inspired me to layer architectural forms, personal memories and imagined spaces in my final piece, reflecting my experience of migration between Hong Kong and Edinburgh.”

The artwork forms part of a wider series exploring memory, community and the hidden structures that shape everyday life. Drawing on Robbie’s own school experiences alongside stories and ideas contributed by the Merchiston community, the painting features familiar landmarks, imagined spaces and visual references inspired by conversations with pupils throughout the year.

Among them are imagined underground train systems beneath the school, hidden worlds within buildings and a gecko peering from a stack of library books – ideas that emerged through discussions with pupils during the residency.

Robbie Bushe RSA said: “One of the most rewarding aspects of the residency was the curiosity of the pupils. Their ideas, questions and observations constantly challenged me to look at things differently.

“Artists can sometimes work in isolation. Spending a year immersed in a school community brought a completely different energy to the work and many of the details within the painting grew directly from conversations with pupils.

“Being given the opportunity to work alongside the boys and become part of the daily life of the school has had a real impact on my own practice. The finished piece is as much a reflection of the community as it is of my own experiences and ideas.”

To learn more about Merchiston Castle School, please visit :

https://www.merchiston.co.uk/ 

Extra Time: Supporting low-income families

£2.5 million to expand after school activities

An additional £2.5 million is being invested to expand free after school activity clubs for primary school children from low-income families, starting this August.

The investment builds on the success of the Extra Time programme – delivered in partnership with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) – which currently supports around 5,000 children every week across 50 clubs in 27 local authority areas.

The new funding will test different activity provision across Scotland, focused on helping children and families who would not otherwise be able to afford access to after school activities.

The funding will support activities in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Moray, Borders, Highland and Shetland, working with St Mirin’s Out of School Care, YouthLink Scotland and the SFA. Provision spans rural, island and border communities, with activities ranging from sport and arts to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and creative skills.

Cabinet Secretary for Education Màiri McAllan said: “Every child deserves the chance to take part in activities which support their health, wellbeing and confidence – regardless of their family’s income.

“This investment will open doors for more children who might otherwise miss out, while also helping their parents to work, increasing household incomes and tackling child poverty.

“Building on the strong foundations of the Extra Time programme we are now testing a wider range of models across Scotland – from island communities in Shetland to the Borders – so we can learn what works best and shape the future of school-age childcare.”

Activities run Monday–Friday, 3–6pm, for primary school children from low-income families. All providers will have safeguarding policies, PVG checks and insurance in place.

SFA_Extra_Time_Annual_2026_Impact_ReportDownload

The £2.5 million is part of a wider 2026-27 Scottish Government investment in school-age childcare including: