Scottish young people speak out about fostering
Cathy Wallace
Friday, July 11, 2008
Fostered young Scottish people feel their voices are not heard when decisions are being made about their lives, the Fostering Network has said.
The charity has put together a collection of thoughts, ideas and opinions from fostered children and children of foster carers, and will present them in the form of a publication to Scottish children's commissioner Kathleen Marshall next week.
All the young people involved in putting Forgotten Voices together said they wished their views were taken into account more when decisions about their lives were being made.
Children of foster carers said they wanted more support and training to help them cope with the change in family dynamic when their parents start fostering.
The young people are now trying to highlight the difficulties children and young people in care face, and ask Marshall to add her voice to their campaign for change.
Christine, a foster carer's daughter who was involved in the project, said: "It is really important adults listen to and take on board what young people say, how we feel and what we want, but more often than not we are ignored."
