Scottish minister hears foster carers' call for recognition and financial security

The Fostering Network brought foster carers together with Siobhian Brown, Scotland's new Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, at an informal event in Edinburgh, the charity reported on 21 September. Much of the session was small-group conversation about carers' day-to-day experiences and what they want to change.

Three themes dominated, according to the charity: greater recognition and respect for carers, financial security, and more support from local authorities. The minister committed to upholding The Promise, Scotland's reform programme for care-experienced children and young people, and to seeing through the changes made by the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026. Several of the carers present sit on the charity's Foster Carer Advisory Board and plan to keep engaging with her during this Parliament.

The meeting comes against a backdrop of falling capacity. The Care Inspectorate's latest fostering bulletin, summarised by CELCIS, recorded 2,828 fostering households in Scotland at the end of 2024, down 5.7 per cent on the year, with 3,680 children in foster care against 3,918 a year earlier. When the Scottish Government launched its national recruitment campaign in May 2025, The Fostering Network estimated Scotland needed at least 400 more carers and was losing more than 350 a year.

Some councils have moved on pay. In May, City of Edinburgh Council replaced age-banded fees with a single weekly fee of £307.50 for mainstream carers, an increase it put at around 60 per cent for those caring for under-12s, paid on top of the Scottish Recommended Allowance, which rose 3.8 per cent this year.

What this means for you: the charity says it wants more opportunities for carers to speak directly to the minister and to officials, with its advisory board the main route. The 2026 Act and The Promise set the framework for any changes to allowances, support and recognition, so it is worth following your council's and the charity's updates on implementation.