The children

Why fostering is important

As a voluntary adoption and fostering agency we receive phone calls and emails on a daily basis from councils throughout Scotland desperate for foster parents for children and young people who cannot stay with their birth parents. This might be temporarily or indefinitely. The children need foster carers because their birth parents can’t look after them. This might be because they are ill, are deceased or may cause harm to them. Sadly, due to our current shortage of foster carers we can only ever help a very small number of these children.

What type of foster carer could you be?

We are looking for foster carers for children and young people of all ages who could provide short term, long term and short break (also known as respite) foster care. Could you help?

Not all but many of the children and young people that we are contacted about have come from birth families where their basic care needs have not been met. Or they have experienced neglect and abuse. Often they have been deprived of things that most children and young people would take for granted like being given enough food, kept safe and feeling loved. It is common for family relationships to have completely broken down, destabilising the environment for the child or young person. We believe that these children and young people deserve a better future. Don’t you?

We place boys and girls, sibling groups and children of various ages, from 0 – 18 years who need a home away from their birth family.

If you would like to have an open conversation with one of our Senior Practitioners to discuss what fostering entails in order to help you decide if it is right for you please contact us on 0131 454 3370. You can ask as many questions as you like to help you make your decision. Alternatively, please email info@standrews-children.org.uk and we will get back to you

Female foster carer hugging young person

Take the next step now!

One of our social workers will then contact you.

Alternatively, please call us on 0131 454 3370 (if you live within 60 miles of Edinburgh) or 01224 878 158 (if you live within 60 miles of Aberdeen or Elgin) or email info@standrews-children.org.uk and we’ll send you an enquiry form to complete and return.

If you have any questions or are unsure if you can adopt or foster through us, please contact us anyway using the details above to speak with one of our social workers.

6 sets of colourful wellies in a row depicting family

St Andrew’s Children Society are a great organisation. Children are the priority always. They are friendly and supportive.