Moray foster carers' allowance increase boost

MORAY Council's decision to increase allowances for kinship and foster carers, in line with the Scottish Government’s Recommended Allowance, has been welcomed.

The allowances, which are designed to cover various expenses associated with fostering, including daily living costs, educational resources and extracurricular activities, will be increased by an average of £20 a week.

Funded by £16 million from the Scottish Government, the new Scottish Recommended Allowance will benefit more than 9000 children across Scotland.

The move was welcomed by Buckie councillor Sonya Warren, who is the education spokesperson on the council's SNP group.

She said: “The majority of these adjustments will lead to an increase in foster carers' incomes, assisting them in meeting the expenses associated with caring for children.

“Foster carers play a crucial role in supporting children and young people who have experienced significant trauma and provide them with a stable and loving home. It is only right that we ensure the allowances they receive adequately cover the entire cost of delivering this care."

Councillor Scott Lawrence (Forres), the group’s spokesperson on health and social care, added: “The increased allowances for Moray foster and kinship carers in line with the national levels show our commitment to Keeping the Promise.

"We want every care-experienced child and young person to grow up in an environment where they feel loved, safe, and respected.

“The significant roles played by our foster and kinship carers cannot be overstated. For the first time, each eligible foster and kinship carer in Moray will now receive, at a minimum, a standardised, national level of support. This support is designed to assist them in ensuring that care-experienced children enjoy equal opportunities to their peers.”