Extraordinary foster carers needed

We celebrated Foster Care Fortnight between May 12 to 25, the UK's biggest awareness-raising campaign for fostering.

- Natalie Don SNP MSP for Renfrewshire North and West

This annual event gives us the opportunity to recognise and thank foster carers for the vital role they play in the lives of children and young people in the care system, and to encourage more people to consider taking that step themselves.

Here in Renfrewshire North and West, like communities across the country, we rely on the compassion, commitment, and stability that foster carers bring.

These individuals offer safe, loving homes to children who, for many different reasons, cannot live with their birth families.

Whether care is provided for a short time or over many years, the difference it makes can last a lifetime.

As Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, I've been proud to oversee a new Scottish Government campaign to recruit more local authority foster carers.

The Fostering Network estimates that Scotland needs at least 400 additional foster carers, and that includes right here in Renfrewshire.