Extra cash for services for children in care in Scotland

The Scottish executive announced an extra £7m funding to support children in care today.

Residential units and schools will receive £5m to improve décor and provide facilities that improve learning.

And foster carers and kinship carers can apply for a share of £2m to buy essentials such as bunk beds, a washing machine or additional furniture.

Launching the scheme, deputy education minister Robert Brown told a conference: “It is our responsibility to ensure that the often vulnerable children who are in care have everything they need to succeed. We must invest in them and their future.”

Fostering Network Scotland director Bryan Ritchie welcomed the extra funding but said there was still much to be done to improve stability and educational outcomes for fostered children.