An Inverness teenager has given his support to a campaign to help the image of youngsters who have spent part of their lives in care.
Scott Henderson, 16, who spent several years living in a residential unit in Inverness, said that living in care provided the support of a “second family”.
He was speaking as Who Cares? Scotland launched the Give Me A Chance campaign to tackle the discrimination faced by young people in care and improve public attitudes towards the residential care system.
The organisation’s research reveals that, although the public believe that being in care can help children sort out their lives, one-third of adults believes that most children are in care because of their own behaviour. Some children in care suffer bullying and negative attitudes.
Scott left local authority care three months ago, but said that he would urge youngsters in care to remain there once they turn 16.
He said: “It helped me to speak to the staff about my problems and what was in my head. They were very supportive.
“People think that if you’re in care you must be bad, but there are all sorts of reasons why children are in care.”
Scott is now living at a residential bed and breakfast and looking for a job, after working as a volunteer with the British Heart Foundation.
Heather Gray, chief executive of Who Cares? Scotland, said: “The Give Me A Chance campaign is long overdue. For many years the children and young people we work with have complained of being bullied, blamed or written off just because they are in care. They speak of the hurt and shame when other children’s parents try to stop them being their friends, when teachers expect them to fail rather than succeed and when neighbours’ first reaction to any trouble in the area is to point the finger at the local children’s unit.”
She said the public were beginning to realise that being in care helps youngsters overcome their difficulties.
But she added that she was concerned at the belief that it was “bad” children who went into care.
Ms Gray said: “In fact, regardless of age, most children and young people go into care because they are at risk of coming to harm if they remain in their own homes.”
A poster campaign will run throughout Scotland during the next month, with materials also being sent to schools, doctors surgeries, police stations, local authorities and voluntary organisations. A new website will also be launched next month to help promote the campaign.