SOME see them as 'cattle markets for kids', others as a quick way to help desperate children find loving parents. Despite the controversy 'adoption parties' are now to be rolled out across Scotland to help find families for children in care deemed too difficult to place.

It is hoped the adoption parties will help address the huge shortfall in the number of adoptive parents in Scotland.

Also known as "adoption activity days", the parties see couples who already have approval to adopt meeting prospective children in an informal setting to see if they 'match'. The parties were piloted last year but are no being rolled out around the country.

Children brought to the adoption parties are those who councils have been unable to find families for, and "older children" who are four or over, as well as sibling and children with disabilities.

With around 25 percent of children being successfully matched with parents at the pilot events, the Scottish Government has given the green light for the Adoption Register Scotland scheme – which even proponents admit is controversial – to be rolled out to try to ensure children do not have to remain in the care system.

It is thought that there are about three times as many children as prospective adoptive parents, with just 337 adopted from care in the year ending July 2014. A total of 15,580 children were in the care of local authorities in the same period, with 5,533 of them placed with foster parents. The Fostering Network estimate that 800 additional foster families are needed across Scotland. Matches are often not found because prospective parents are looking for young babies.

Robin Duncan, manager of the Adoption Register Scotland, said: "Most people's initial reaction [to the scheme] is a sharp intake of breath. But we have spent a lot of time making sure that this works for the children and to make sure that they ... don't feel rejected. What's encouraging is that everyone who's been has said that its been really positive."

The 'adoption parties' involve themes such as pirates and princesses, games, face painting and fancy dress for both adults and children. Other alternatives that have been introduced in recent years include Adoption Exchange Days at which adopters can speak to social workers, see photos and watch videos of children looking for families.

"Ultimately there are no risk-free options," Duncan said. "If we don't try different methods there is a risk of children not finding families and remaining in the care system."

Siobhan Caroll, head of fostering and adoption, for Barnardos Scotland, said the struggles to find placements for children were common to all local authorities and agencies across the country. In 2016 the Scottish charity received 604 referrals from local authorities looking for foster families for harder to place children. However families were only found for 22 children and young people.

"I think this clearly demonstrated that current need for foster carers is still significant. We are seeing a rising complexity of issues - we see abuse and trauma, children who have been sexually exploited, as well as asylum seeking children.

"Some are scared, some need support and others need time to adjust. But they all need love - that's not a word that we shy away from – they need someone to listen to them and who they can trust. For some we need to work very hard to explain why they are not able to be with their families. Others have a sense of relief and of security after their previous experiences."

"We are not trying to replace people's birth families. But we want children to experience a sense of family life that can give them the opportunities and experiences they might not have had before."

Jules Davison, and her husband Jon, who are now retired and have three grown-up children offered respite foster care until they met their foster-son, then nine. "We just fell in love with him," said Jules Davison.

It took over a year for the arrangement to be finalised, a process the former head hunter found frustrating and bureaucratic. Four years later the positives outweigh the difficulties. "When he came to us he couldn't read or write. Now he reads Harry Potter under the covers with a torch. He plays rugby and goes to Scouts, and is doing so well at school. Fostering gives you the opportunity to make a real difference to someone's life."