COVID-19 funding requested by fostering organisations: FOI release

Information requested

"Could you tell me if and Covid 19 funding or Grants were given to Local Authorities for Foster Carers within their Council areas in particular South Ayrshire Council?

• How much per foster placement?
• What was it to be used for?
• Any other funding relating to foster carers.

Could I also request information of any funding requested by National or local external fostering organisations?

• How much?
• Which external organisations?
• The reasons for the request for funding."

Response

In response to "Could you tell me if Covid 19 funding or Grants were given to Local Authorities for Foster Carers within their Council areas in particular South Ayrshire Council?

• How much per foster placement?
• What was it to be used for?
• Any other funding relating to foster carers."

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. You may wish to contact local authorities directly to access any information they may hold on Covid- 19 funding, who it was provided to and how it was used.

While the Scottish Government did not provide Covid-19 funding or grants to local authorities specifically for foster carers, it did provide additional funding packages to local authorities to support the needs of those struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic. Information on these funds can be found on our website. I am including links to some below that may be of particular interest to you:

• Helping communities affected by COVID-19 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Immediate Priorities Fund: organisations funded - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Financial help for families in need - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) - this fund also includes a digital funding mapping tool which includes a breakdown of how the fund was allocated.
• Winter support fund for families and children - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

In response to ‘Could I also request information of any funding requested by National or local external fostering organisations.

• How much?
• Which external organisations?
• The reasons for the request for funding."

The organisations that contacted the Scottish Government to request additional funding for foster carers during the pandemic were:

• AFA Scotland
• The Fostering Network (Scotland)
• The Independent Foster Care Alliance
• TACT Fostering (The Adolescent and Childcare Trust)
• National Association of Fostering Providers (NAFP)
• IWGB (Independent Workers union of Great Britain)

The requests for additional packages of funding for foster carers from the above organisation did not specify amounts, but the reasons funding was requested were to provide support to foster families affected by illness, the need for self-isolation or to cover retention payments for those who were temporarily unable to provide foster care due to social distancing rules at the time.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.