Falkirk foster carers confront council over cuts to their holiday

Friday 31 January: Foster carers in Falkirk are set to meet with local councillors today to raise ongoing concerns over insufficient financial support and cuts to their holiday allowance.

The meeting, organised by the IWGB Foster Care Workers Union, comes years after the majority of Falkirk carers sent a petition to the council with demands including a raise to fees in line with inflation and the reinstatement of the holiday allowance that had been cut.

At an open meeting held in September 2023, several councillors pledged their support for the carers’ campaign and committed to improve their experiences, but members of the IWGB insist that nothing has changed, calling out the council’s ‘failure to take a single meaningful action’ in the time since.

In 2019, Falkirk Council took the decision to cut foster carers’ holiday allowance by 14 days, and to impose a freeze on their fees which remains in place today. Over that time, the council has lost an increasing number of local carers, and been forced to send more and more children through private agencies, which cost almost 90% more per placement.

Mike Lasko, a Foster Carer in Falkirk says, "We left our initial meeting with councillors feeling hopeful, as those who attended all stated that they did not realise the depth of feeling amongst carers and offered their support. Since that meeting, trying to get through to the council has felt like hitting a brick wall. Having refused to recognise our union, the council claims it has been engaging with carers through other routes - yet a year on we still haven't seen any concrete results. Indeed, managers have said that they will not work with the union. We as carers have submitted ideas for consideration that we feel would help improve the situation within the care system but we have never had a response from either the council or managers within social work. All we’re asking for is to work collaboratively with councillors to end the crisis in Falkirk’s foster care system and create a fairer system for all. Hopefully today's meeting will be the start of a new chapter where we can meaningfully sit round a table"

Kenny Millard, Chair of the Foster Carers Branch of IWGB says, “Taking away foster carers’ holiday allowance is like holding a match to the local care system. Without enough time to rest, carers burn out and are forced to step down from the highly demanding yet life-changing roles they perform. The repercussions for vulnerable children can be seriously damaging. Falkirk Council needs to recognise the threat to children’s futures, give carers back their holiday, and open their doors to dialogue moving forward.” Kenny Millard, Chair of the Foster Care Workers Branch.

For more information, please contact press@iwgb.co.uk