Peeblesshire News | News | Public outcry at local foster carers' treatment

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 11th July, 2008 12:35

Public outcry at local foster carers' treatment

By David O'Leary

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Councillors and planning chiefs have been slammed for their treatment of two local foster carers.

Public outcry has followed a recent story in this paper regarding the plight of Mike and Liz Cashin, who due to a recent planning decision may be forced to quit fostering.

The couple have fostered over 46 children in a career spanning 13 years at their home on Edderston Road, Peebles.

The Cashin's were given approval for a stand-alone annexe to their home in February 2005 to provide accommodation and a level of self-sufficiency for their teenage foster children.

At present the couple foster three children and were hoping to foster three more with the additional space offered by the annexe.

However, months after the couple submitted their application the Care Commission recommended that the number of children fostered by a couple be capped to just four.

The financial implications of this led the Cashin's to request for condition 1 on the original consent, restricting the use of the new building to an annexe, to be removed to allow the property to be used as a separate dwelling.

However, Tweeddale Area Committee refused this request stating that their ruling had to be based solely on a planning issue and free from any surrounding social issues.

This decision has enraged the community at large and the Cashin’s and our own offices have been inundated with letters and emails in support of the couple.

The council only launched a massive campaign, aimed at finding foster carers to provide security and care for vulnerable children, last month.

Speaking at the launch, Social Work Services Director, Andrew Lowe said: “There are children in our care who desperately need the support and commitment of a loving family.”

Gary Edgar is Chef de Partie at the world famous Cringletie House Hotel and is a former foster child of the Cashin’s. He said: “I think it’s a shocking decision and bizarre when you consider this campaign. Mike and Liz put so much effort into looking after vulnerable kids and now they just get a kick in the teeth for it.

“All they wanted to do was try and offer more accommodation for foster kids. In truth the council should be bending over backwards to try and help them.

“They turned my life around because I was heading straight to jail until I was placed with them. I’d been with other carers before them but none had the impact that they had. I began working hard at school again and Mike really pushed me to pursue a career in cooking.”

Keith Brown spent almost ten years with the Cashin’s and is now a year away from completing an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator. He said: “If they are forced to cease fostering then it would be a massive loss to the community. A loss that would be felt mostly by the kids who would miss out on a chance of maybe getting their life back on track.

“Mike and Liz try to rehabilitate every kid that comes through their door. I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I have had without them such as a stable family atmosphere, my apprenticeship, my girlfriend and my friends.”

The couple are at present appealing the decision and have been touched by the considerable support they’ve received from the community. He said: “Our planning consultant believes that we’ve a reasonable case so we’re hopeful at present. We’ve been amazed at the groundswell of support from people and we’re very thankful.

“We invest a lot of time and effort into children in our care and I hope that a favorable decision can reached fro us and them.

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