The Fostering Network Scotland has been awarded nearly £150,000 by the Big Lottery Fund for its two-year Walking Tall project which will improve the lives of children in foster care and the sons and daughters of foster carers.

Walking Tall will bring children together through a range of events, such as drama, play and dance workshops, to develop their confidence, self-esteem and life skills. The project will facilitate sessions to help children combat negative life events, helping them to develop a positive sense of self. Children will be consulted with to produce and distribute new resources which will benefit all children in foster care.

A children’s participation worker will lead these activities, which will include outreach work to ensure disabled children are able to participate as well. Through this project, children will have the opportunity to feel proud of their history, make sense of their often traumatic past, and learn to ‘walk tall’.

Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network Scotland, said: ‘We are thrilled to receive this funding as it will enable us, through working directly with children living in foster families, to develop  some very important understanding and resources which will help  children in foster care  to overcome the challenges of their early lives. We believe foster care transforms lives and that the stigma of being in foster care must be tackled – we want all children  to aim high, pursue their dreams and to walk tall.’

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: ‘I am delighted that The Fostering Network has been successful in securing a Big Lottery Fund grant. The funding will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish The Fostering Network  every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project for the benefit of their local community.’