Northern area foster carers celebrated at annual awards

Foster carers gathered together at the weekend for the Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards, a ceremony co-hosted by HSC NI Foster Care and The Fostering Network.

Now in its 18th year, the Awards recognise the critical role foster carers have in providing stability, love and care for children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families.

A number of HSC NI foster carers and kinship foster carers, received special recognition for their outstanding contribution to fostering.

Kerrylee Weatherall, Interim Director of Children’s Community Services who represented HSC NI Foster Care at the event said: “The Foster Care Awards gives us an opportunity to celebrate our fostering community in Northern Ireland and recognise the contribution that foster carers make to the lives of our children and young people.

By providing safe and nurturing home environments, foster carers are helping to transform lives; giving children and young people a chance to build their confidence, develop their talents and be ambitious for their future. We hope this event goes some way to showing foster carers how much we value them, and appreciate the kindness and support they show children and young people every single day.”

Director of The Fostering Network Northern Ireland, Kathleen Toner, said: “It is a true honour to be able to recognise these incredible foster carers and kinship carers in this way. Every winner has gone above and beyond for the children and young people in their care, and I hope they are really proud of themselves.

“Being foster carers and kinship carers isn’t always easy, it’s a 24-hour job, so I would like to say thank you to the winners, and all foster and kinship carers, for their hard work and dedication. You are an integral part of our fostering communities and we are so grateful for the work you do.”

Northern area winners

Excellence in Foster Care – Barbara Caldwell

Barbara was a foster carer alongside her husband Brian for almost 30 years, before he sadly passed away last year. After a short break, Barbara – who is a retired neonatal and pediatric nurse – continued fostering and welcomed a one-year-old into her home in May 2023. The little boy has a number of health conditions, however he is thriving under Barbara’s care.

Barbara is still in regular contact with many of the children and young people that she and Brian cared for. She is registered with the adult disability service so she could offer continued support for a young woman she used to foster.

Barbara is dedicated to the children and young people she cares for, supporting them to grow and learn.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Diane and Pat McCourt

Pat and Diane have been foster carers for 45 years, dedicating much of their lives to providing complex care to children with complex needs. Many of the children they provided care for are still a part of their family today.

After an incredible commitment to fostering, providing a huge amount of love and care, they have made the difficult decision to retire. Earlier this year, in June, they were awarded and MBE for services to foster care by the King, and were placed on the King’s honour list.

Pat and Diane recently attended the wedding of one of the young people they cared for, who asked Pat to walk her down the aisle.

As these two wonderful foster carers come to the end of their fostering journey, they advise others who are considering fostering to give it a go.

They said: “Fostering is lots of fun! We did things we wouldn’t otherwise have done. It has kept us young.”

A number of Northern area foster carers also received a Certificate of Excellence at the event including Nicola and Adrian Stewart, Sharon and Derek Ramsay, Judith and Graham Hawthorne, Adrian and Nicola Stewart and Maureen and Colin Steenson.

For more information on fostering, Call HSC NI Foster Care on 0800 0720 137 or visit adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st October 2024