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Best Fostering Agencies in Scotland
- Aberlour Children’s Charity
- Action for Children - Glasgow
- Barnardo’s Scotland
- Care Visions Fostering
- Carolina House Trust
- Dean and Cauvin Young People’s Trust
- Foster Care Associates Scotland - Aberdeen
- Fostering People - Dundee
- Fostering Relations Ltd
- Fosterplus - Ayr
- JMT Fostering
- Kibble Intensive Fostering Service
Fostering is no easy decision, but one thing’s for sure: it’s a life-changing one. This is not only about becoming a parent but also about providing a new home for a disadvantaged child.
We believe that more than blood relations, it’s the bond that matters most. If you’re ready to take that step, here’s a roundup of the best fostering agencies in Scotland.
Aberlour Children’s Charity
Website: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/
Facebook: Aberlour Children’s Charity
Address: Kintail House, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ, UK
Contact details: +44 800 085 6150
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Founded in 1875, Aberlour Children’s Charity was started by Canon Charles Jupp with the help of Miss Macpherson Grant with the goal of beating poverty and discrimination.
Those who want to be foster carers will receive full training and generous monthly fees. For those struggling to make ends meet, they also provide an Urgent Assistance Fund covering food, clothing, and other essentials.
To be an eligible foster carer, you should be at least 21, who is willing to care for a child or young person who has experienced trauma. You should also be a non-smoker and have a spare bedroom.
Action for Children – Glasgow
Website: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/
Facebook: Action for Children
Address: 17, Newton Place, Glasgow, G3 7PY, UK
Contact details: +44 141 550 9010
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Action for Children was founded in 1860 with several branches across the UK, one of which is in Glasgow. Last year alone, they helped over 20,000 children and young people from disadvantaged families in the country.
They’re known for their functional family therapy (FTT) service which has been helping improve relationships since 2012. Foster carers will also be given specialist training, 24-hour advice, and support groups on top of a monthly fee and an allowance.
Unlike other agencies, they use an app called ‘Big Welcome’ to make it easier for the child to adjust to their new home. As for grown adults that used to be in care, they share their side of the story through a Youtube series, ‘My Time in Care.’
Barnardo’s Scotland
Website: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/
Facebook: Barnardo’s
Address: 111, Oxgangs Rd North, Edinburgh, EH14 1ED, UK
Contact details: +44 131 446 7000
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Barnardo’s started with a married couple at its helm whose primary goal was to help young boys and girls in the 1800s. Rather than using their wedding present for themselves, they built a safe place for these children.
The charity continued to grow, especially with the help of the late Princess Diana who acted as president from 1984 to 1996. Presently, the charity has given support to kids and young adults giving them health care services and professional supervision.
Their foster carers receive financial support, including taxable income and a weekly allowance for child care costs. These come with free certified training and development opportunities.
Care Visions Fostering
Website: https://carevisionsfostering.co.uk/
Facebook: Care Visions Fostering
Address: Bremner House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4TF, UK
Contact details: +44 178 647 7810
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Friday – 9 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Care Visions Fostering is a Scottish-owned fostering service that provides a new home for kids. But, it also opens a great opportunity for couples from the LGBTQ+ community to build their families.
As a strong ally, they aim to provide progressive care for the youth. They even support different activities related to the community like Pride March or Pride Festivals across the country.
If you’re interested in fostering, they offer both short-term and long-term care for the kids, depending on your preferences. They also provide emergency care for families who need their children to stay in a safe environment for a night or a few weeks.
Carolina House Trust
Website: https://carolinahousetrust.org.uk/
Facebook: Carolina House Trust
Address: Gateway West, Dundee Technology Park, 7 Luna PI, Dundee, DD2 1TP, UK
Contact details: +44 138 256 1279
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
The Carolina House Trust (CHT) is one of Scotland’s oldest children’s charities, established in 1815 by a group of Dundonians. Their objective at that time was to simply lend a hand to the young people who were left to fend for themselves.
Even though it was originally a simple orphanage, it has now become a great service provider for family-based care, especially in therapeutic parenting. They usually consist of staff and volunteers who want to help all young kids find the right home for them.
The different fostering services you can expect from them are emergency care, short breaks, interim, long-term, and permanent. As long as you are 21 years old and above, you can consider fostering through CHT.
Dean and Cauvin Young People’s Trust
Website: https://www.deanandcauvin.org.uk/
Facebook: Dean & Cauvin Young People’s Trust
Address: 68 St, John’s Rd, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, EH12 8AT, UK
Contact details: +44 131 337 3295
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 4:30 AM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Dean and Cauvin Young People’s Trust was established in 1733, making it the oldest charity in the country and on our list. It was founded by merchants in the capital city who wanted to provide a home for children and young people that lived on the streets.
Presently, they offer a home for young children between the ages of 15 to 21 years old.
Apart from providing residential care for kids, they also open their doors for young mothers and their babies who have nowhere else to go.
They’re currently seeking couples and individuals ready to provide a full-time home to youth aged 12+ and short-term breaks for young parents with babies.
Foster Care Associates Scotland – Aberdeen
Website: https://www.fcascotland.co.uk/locations/aberdeen/
Facebook: FCA Scotland
Address: Unit 3, Newmachar Business Centre, Kingseat Ave, Kingseat, Aberdeen, AB21 0UE, UK
Contact details: +44 165 186 3658
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 9 AM – 7 PM
- Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Foster Care Associates (FCA) Scotland will help you through each step of fostering as they provide support and training with a specialist on board. They’ve been in the industry since 1994, and they’re located in Aberdeen, Edinburgh (Is Edinburgh good place to live?), Fife, and more.
To provide the best environment for the kids in their care, they create various activities and events for them. This includes taking them to the zoo and hosting sports tournaments for their enjoyment.
Foster carers are given many perks, such as discounts in Expedia, Domino’s, and Wowcher among others, aside from having a new member to their growing family.
Fostering People – Dundee
Website: https://www.fosteringpeople.co.uk/
Facebook: Fostering People
Address: Suite G ⅔, Faraday Business Centre, 34, Faraday St, Dundee, DD2 3QQ, UK
Contact details: +44 138 283 6806
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Rated as ‘Very Good’ by Care Inspectorate, Fostering People in Dundee is one of the best fostering agencies in Scotland. In fact, they’ve been ranked as ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) in their England offices.
They guide you in the process of fostering, especially for those who are anxious about doing it for the first time. Rest assured, they have a great fostering model and excellent training, so it’ll be a seamless process for you to become a good foster parent.
We even liked how they conduct surveys online so foster parents can share their experiences with the agency. Notably, 93% of them are satisfied with their offered services.
Fostering Relations Ltd
Facebook: National Fostering Group
Address: East Gateway, Beancross Rd, Grangemouth, FK3 8WH, UK
Contact details: +44 132 446 4947
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Fostering Relations Ltd is under the National Fostering Group, a nationwide network of independent local fostering agencies. Although it’s the smallest agency in the group, it covers a large geographical area.
This includes Fife, Perthshire, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Falkirk, and more. Now, they have 47 foster carers who receive weekly calls from them to ask how they’re doing, along with psychology sessions monthly.
They also allow continuing care for young adults, aged 18 to 21 years old. Sometimes, they take in older people if they’re studying full-time.
Fosterplus – Ayr
Website: https://www.fosterplus.co.uk/
Facebook: Fosterplus
Address: 1 Racecourse Rd, Ayr South, Ayrshire, KA7 2UP, UK
Contact details: +44 129 228 8990
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Fosterplus has more than 25 years of experience in the industry, and one of its local branches is in Ayr. They were also rated as ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED in all their offices across England and Scotland.
What we like best about them is their continuous guidance to new foster parents. This encompasses access to support gatherings, interaction with Fosterplus management, and round-the-clock helpline with a certified social worker.
Plus, they give rewards and benefits to foster parents. This includes discount vouchers on Pizza Hut, Tesco, ATG Tickets, and hotels.com so the entire family could bond and have a good time together.
JMT Fostering
Website: https://moorehousegroup.org.uk/
Facebook: JMT Fostering
Address: Unit 3A, Alba Pavilions, Livingston, EH54 7HG, UK
Contact details: +44 150 640 7340
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Since 1997, JMT Fostering has been providing foster care across the country with offices in Livingston, Dundee, and Prestwick. It’s under the management of the Moore House Group which provides a wide range of high-quality services supporting children.
JMT has three types of foster placements: short breaks, interim, and permanent to let you choose which set-up suits you best. This is not only limited to young kids but also to young adults who need all the help they could get.
If you’re considering fostering, what they look for is someone willing to care for children and young people. You must be over 21 years old and have a home and stable work in Scotland as well.
Kibble Intensive Fostering Service
Website: https://www.kibble.org/
Facebook: Kibble Group
Address: Abercorn House, 79 Renfrew Rd, Paisley, PA3 4DA, UK
Contact details: +44 141 889 0044
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Despite having traumas and undergoing challenges in life, Kibble proves that children and young people from ages 5 to 26 years old can still have a new start. They provide all the support that these children need until they find the best environment for them.
The Kibble Intensive Fostering Services offers different kinds of support to those in need. These involve providing residential care, education, and interventions for vulnerable youth (IVY) among others.
For those planning to be foster carers, you’ll receive generous allowances, full training, and 24/7 support from the agency.
