Since being elected, last May, I have had the absolute pleasure to meet a number of hardworking, gifted and inspirational people, who strive and work tirelessly for others in our city.

They do this work for no personal gain, often at a financial cost to themselves and with a great deal of humility.

They have provided the antidote to some others I have met, whose own contribution to our city gives them a great deal to be humble about.

At the beginning of the month, I attended the inaugural Glasgow City Foster Care Summit. That was a rather grand title for a get-together of foster carers across the city. It provided me with a chance to meet with others and share views and experiences; in what is often a very isolating role.

It was a pleasure to sit with these unsung heroes and validate their contribution to the welfare of our city’s young people.

In my former career, I had cause to work with a large number of carers across Glasgow and I saw, first-hand, the vocational nature of the role of foster and kinship carers.

However, even I had no idea about the level of demand placed upon some carers by children with often very challenging and extremely complex support needs. Their roles are 24/7 and all year round.

You would imagine, therefore, a grateful city and country would be happy to ensure that those who support our most vulnerable citizens are both ably and properly supported themselves.

It was surprising to see that no foster carers or their representatives were invited to address the hall and make an official contribution. This did not go unnoticed and one foster carer rose to her feet, unannounced, and delivered an impromptu speech to those assembled stating their concerns and receiving the biggest round of applause of the morning, as she reflected their own experiences back at them; which they felt the event was plainly ignoring.

During a round table discussion, I asked the $64,000 question...

“Do you feel taken advantage of by the service?” The answer, at my table was a unanimous yes.

But why? I didn’t have to dig deep to find out.

In the last 15 years, allowances to foster carers have not risen; the most recent supplement being £15 for younger children. This is when food and home energy bills have skyrocketed, and carers are digging deep into their own pockets to make sure that the children in their care do not go without.

Reclaiming fuel expenses is burdensome with one carer telling me they are having to wait two months to reclaim fuel costs.

Vital training sessions to help them manage the challenging behaviours of children in their care, which were cancelled (rightly at the time) due to Covid, have yet to recommence.

Elsewhere, and away from the influence of SNP-Green run Scotland, foster carers have significantly better benefits, including in some English cities exemption from paying council tax.

Is it any wonder that we currently, on the SNP-Green’s watch we have a shortage of 500 foster carers?

Of course, at the last election, the SNP promised foster carers much including a national minimum allowance, bringing, already disadvantaged, Scottish carers in line with the rest of the UK.

Since then, guess what? Not a squeak.

As these unsung and unrewarded heroes of our city carry out the vital task of protecting our city’s children and, by virtue of that, our country’s future; SNP-Green ministers busy themselves in Parliament and in the courts with their independence obsession and gender recognition reform.

Foster and kinship carers of Glasgow, I salute and thank you for the vital service you carry out for our city.

I only wish those in power felt the same.