News from Scotland
Find out how we are finding homes for children in Scotland
Tamsyn Radmall shares updates, encouragement and prayer points related to Home for Good’s work across Scotland.
Building towards merger
This summer has been an exciting time within Home for Good Scotland as we start building more intentionally towards merger with Safe Families. It has been a joy to get to know the Safe Families team across Scotland. To see that we are amongst friends when we share about our heart for the church, family, hospitality and justice.
We went together to ‘Refuel’ festival, where we had a shared stand and saw people engage with both Home for Good and Safe Families. It was great to see new connections with volunteers and churches as we connected with networks primarily in the Northeast of Scotland.
The official date of merger is 1 September but it’ll take time to integrate and embed the different teams and systems so please do pray for this process over the coming weeks. And do consider joining us for the special vision evening at the end of September (details below).
A voice for Scotland in Scotland
We have been growing our advocacy work in Scotland and are delighted to welcome Hazel Gardener onto our volunteer team. Hazel is helping us shape our presence and message with the Scottish Parliament. We are lining up meetings with MPs and MSPs as we look to share the voice of the Church into the Promise.
Online support for dispersed families
We have also started a new online support group in Scotland this summer which focuses on connecting people together who live more remotely and cannot access support in their local area. It has been great to work with our volunteers in this initiative as we seek to stand alongside those who have adopted and fostered across rural parts of Scotland. Do let us know if you’d like to hear more about this group or if you’d be keen to explore starting or connecting in with another group.
Families made differently
It has been so encouraging to see our networks of volunteers across Scotland work to support and champion the vision of Home for Good in different ways. Becs Baker is one of our volunteers around the Glasgow area. She is an adoptive parent and church leader and she wanted to access more Christian resources to help her as an adoptive parent. She couldn’t find many UK podcasts that shared from the Christian perspective so, she decided to start her own podcast.
Bec’s podcast is called ‘Families made differently’ and it can be found on various platforms (including Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts). The series aims to share stories from Christians across the UK whose lives and families have been shaped by fostering and adoption.
I’ve listened to the podcast and have found it so encouraging – it’s definitely worth checking out! It is so important that we share stories as we seek to live out the lives that God has called us to, to know that we do not stand alone and that we can support one another in creative ways.
Coming up…
Foundations courses: 9 September & 6 November
The Home for Good Foundations course is for anyone who wants to go a bit deeper in exploring fostering, adoption or supported lodgings. It’s a great way to gain a fuller understanding of these things and to consider what part you might be able to play. The courses run once a week for 5-6 weeks with the next courses beginning on Monday 9 September.
Vision Night with Home for Good and Safe Families: 30 September (online)
Come and join us for an exciting evening as we launch the merger of Safe Families and Home for Good, sharing why we believe this decision will see more children and families thrive. You’ll hear from Co-CEO’s Kat and Tarn about the work of Safe Families and Home for Good respectively, and you’ll be among the first to hear about the heart behind our decision to bring these two successful charities together.
We’ll be joined by some very special guests, including those who have benefitted from the support of Safe Families and Home for Good. And you’ll also get to hear about the ways you can continue to play your part as we seek to serve Church, children, and families with greater impact than we could do individually.
National Adoption week: 21 – 27 October
We are encouraging churches across Scotland to promote adoption week. We want to show that the Church cares about those waiting for adoption, those who have been adopted and people who are choosing to open their homes for adoption.
If you would like to engage as a church then do get in touch with Tamsyn and she can send you resources for your church.
What can I be praying for?
We would love you to stand with us in prayer as we continue to work to find a home for every child who needs one in Scotland.
- As we look towards merger in September, pray that God would help us to stay united and focused on the vision he has given us to be a Church that cares for families and children across Scotland.
- Pray for the rural support group, that it would bless and encourage those who join in. Pray too for more support groups to start across Scotland.
- In the lead up to foundations course, vision night and adoption week pray that God would go before us and the right people would support and attend those spaces.
Are there any events happening soon that I can attend?
- 9 September – Start of the next Foundation Course (online)
- 30 September – Safe Families and Home for Good Vision Night (online)
Head over to our Scotland events page to find out what is happening in the area and find all the local support groups.
How do I get in touch with a member of the Home for Good team in Scotland?
Tamsyn Radmall, Scotland lead - [email protected]
You might also be interested in
I would like to find out what is
going on in my area