First Minister John Swinney has launched a heartfelt national campaign calling on more people across Scotland to consider becoming foster carers.
Timed with the start of Foster Care Fortnight, the campaign celebrates the life-changing impact of fostering and invites people from all walks of life to think about opening their homes and hearts to a young person in need.
It forms part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing promise to ensure every child in care grows up feeling safe, loved and respected by 2030.
Speaking in Edinburgh, the First Minister said more foster carers were urgently needed to help deliver on that promise, and to make sure young people feel the consistency and care they deserve.
He acknowledged that too many people still don’t know what fostering involves, or wrongly believe they wouldn’t be eligible.
This new campaign aims to change that, by raising awareness, challenging stereotypes, and showing just how powerful fostering can be — not only for the child, but for the carer too.
It will feature real stories from foster families across Scotland, painting an honest and uplifting picture of everyday life in fostering households.
The message is clear: fostering is not about being perfect, it’s about being present.
You don’t need to own your home, be married, or have children of your own — what matters is patience, compassion and a willingness to learn.
Scotland currently needs hundreds more foster carers, and each one could change the course of a young person’s life.
The First Minister said fostering is about building relationships, creating stability, and being the person a young person can depend on, even when things are tough.
It’s not always easy, but it is always meaningful.
Fostering offers a way to make a lasting difference, simply by showing up and offering care where it’s most needed.
This campaign is not about pressure — it’s about possibility.
It asks people to take a moment and ask themselves a simple question: could I do this?
For the young people waiting, the answer could be life-changing.
The First Minister hopes the campaign will spark fresh conversations and help bring fostering out of the shadows and into everyday Scottish life.
Because Keeping the Promise is more than a pledge — it’s a chance to transform how we care for those who’ve had the hardest start.
This is a call to kindness, to courage, and to community.
And for someone reading this, it might just be the beginning of something extraordinary.
