The creator of a ground breaking Scottish charity in Fife which is trying to prevent siblings put into care from becoming estranged has welcomed the setting up of the new £1 million BREAKTHROUGH Dundee mentoring scheme.
Karen Morrison, 43, who set up North East Fife-based charity STAR (Siblings Together and Reunited) in 2012, said the new BREAKTHROUGH Dundee scheme was a “wonderful idea” which will make a “huge difference” to the lives and future of some of Dundee’s most vulnerable young people.
The former Dundee insurance company worker, who grew up in Kingskettle and studied at Cupar’s Bell Baxter High School, set up STAR after her experiences of fostering in Fife.
The mother of two grown up children was shocked when she realised how siblings, already traumatised from being put into care, were becoming estranged from each other through separate foster placements.
The primary aim of STAR is to provide the opportunity for regular, quality, supervised sibling contact for brothers and sisters who are separated in the care system or through adoption.
Run from its unique tranquil farmland setting on the south bank of the River Tay near Newburgh, STAR – which is holding a volunteers open day on October 14 – provides opportunities for siblings to foster emotional bonds and overcome the trauma of separation from parents and siblings whether it be by growing fruit together, listening to stories in a special wigwam, playing in the forest or on the beach, or helping care for the charity’s animals.
So when Karen heard that BREAKTHROUGH Dundee had been launched in Dundee last week to provide a 1:1 mentoring programme for secondary-school-aged young people who are vulnerable or in care, she was particularly pleased to hear that the project will provide a stable point of contact for the young people involved.
She said: “I think it is a wonderful idea and will make a huge difference to the lives and future of our vulnerable young people.
“We see the benefits here at STAR with such a high one to one ratio.
“Our volunteer supervisors are wonderful and just being there for a child or young person, listening to them and believing in them can make such a life changing difference and a huge impact on the choices they make in life.”
“It has become very clear that the children and young people who attend monthly are also benefitting from always having the same supervisors for many reasons.
“We always say that it only takes one person to inspire a child and if you can inspire a child there is a high chance you may also inspire a whole generation.”
BREAKTHROUGH Dundee, launched by the Northwood Charitable Trust with support from DC Thomson & Co Ltd and Dundee City Council, is launching this month at Morgan Academy followed by a second school St Paul’s RC Academy.
It is intended that all eight of Dundee’s secondary schools would be involved in the programme by 2019, supporting up to 500 young people.
For more information go to www.breakthroughdundee.co.uk
Meanwhile, to find out more about the open day being held by STAR, which is completely independent of BREAKTHROUGH Dundee, go to www.facebook.com/SiblingTherapeuticAssessmentRetreat
