Foster carers with over 700 years of fostering experience between them looking after some of our most vulnerable children and young people, have been recognised by the city council at Manchester’s annual Foster Carer Awards.
The awards included recognition for some of the city’s longest serving foster carers along with a number of special awards made to individual foster carers for their fostering achievements.
The awards included recognition for more than 30 foster carers who have each recently reached significant milestones in terms of the number of years they have been fostering for – with awards going to all those who had reached five years, ten, fifteen, and twenty years’ service. Foster carer Maymuna Mohamed was one of three amazing foster carers recognised for having devoted themselves to fostering for the last 20 years.
Five long-serving foster carers who have retired from fostering this year were also honoured with awards to thank them for the difference they made during their decades as carers, and for the dedication and commitment they showed towards the children they looked after.
These included Sheila Locke who has fostered for 25 years, and Joy Selley who has just retired from fostering after looking after some of the city’s most vulnerable children and young people for an incredible 34 years.
In addition to these awards, a number of special individual awards were also made on the night, recognising different aspects of fostering.
Nine such awards were made in total including a ‘Foster Carers Choice’ award decided by foster carers themselves, which went to fostering couple Chris and Michael Smith.
Chris and Michael were praised by their peers for their unique qualities and work in supporting other foster carers and their children over and beyond expectations, helping them all feel heard and supported.
Foster carer Michelle Skinner was the recipient of the Rising to the Challenge Award which recognises carers who support our children and young people to be cared for in emergencies.
Winners of the special Unsung Hero Award were Stephanie Jozefczyk and Scott Adams, whilst the Lifetime Achievement Award went to inspirational foster carer Jackie Penton.
Other special awards made on the night included the Children’s Champion award, Going the Distance, Rising Star, Road to Success, and Short Break Carer of the Year.
The annual foster carer awards are made as Manchester continues its journey to become a UNICEF recognised Child Friendly City – a place where children’s rights are understood, actioned and embedded into everyday life in the city, making Manchester the best place possible for a child or young person to grow up in.
Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member Early Years, Children and Young People, Manchester City Council, said: “At a time when the city is working hard to embed the Rights of the Child into everything we do as we work towards becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly City, we’re more acutely aware than ever about the important role our foster carers have in providing a home together with the love, support and guidance our children and young people both need and have a right to.
“Our foster carers provide much more than just a safe place to stay. They offer stability, love, and hope, and guide our children through the most difficult of times. Helping them feel seen, valued and believed in through the kind of care that really does transform lives.”
Find out more information about fostering in Manchester here or telephone 0300 303 0321 (9am to 5pm weekdays)
