Celebrating Northumberland’s Foster Carer Family
11 Aug 2022 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
There were emotional reunions as Northumberland celebrated the county’s family of foster carers and the difference they make to the lives of children and young people every day.
Organised by Northumberland County Council, over 130 foster carers came together for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic as a special thank you for the crucial work that they do.
Held at Linden Hall, awards were presented to foster carers nominated for going above and beyond in their role – but the day was all about celebrating everyone in the county’s foster carer family.
The council currently supports over 180 foster families, but with close to 430 children in care, there is an urgent need for more people to come forward and join the team.
Too often, due to a lack of foster carers, youngsters are placed with families away from their local communities and sibling groups are separated,
Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Our foster carers do an amazing job - opening their hearts and their homes to some of our most vulnerable children and offering them compassion and guidance so that they can thrive and reach their potential.
“It is clear that they always have the child at the centre of what they do and make sure their voices are heard.
“After the challenges of the pandemic, I am glad that so many have been able to come together and see each other face-to-face at this event to allow us to show how much we appreciate all that they do.”
Barbara & Peter, North Northumberland
Among the recipients of the awards were Barbara and Peter.
Peter said: “The rewards of having them, the life that they bring to the family home is golden, really.
“Having shared a period where our children had left home and the house was empty and comparing it to now – the life that they bring gives the home a whole different feel.
Barbara added: “It’s so lovely to see children become secure and contented. We’ve had a number of children move on to adoption and to see them go on to create a new family is just magical.
“We’ve been lucky enough to keep in touch with many of those children and it feels like our family is getting bigger as we become Auntie Barbara and Uncle Peter to more and more children.
“I enjoy teaching children to read and introducing them to the outdoors, the parks and the water and the hills. Northumberland is such a lovely place and they are even nicer to go with children.”
Francie, Alnwick
Francie has been fostering since 2021 and has been excellent at making young people feel welcome and understanding their needs.
We can’t thank her enough for all her hard work and care.
Francie said: “I saw an advert for fostering and my kids have grown up now. So, I got in touch and halfway through lockdown I gave it a go. I just wanted to give teenagers a chance. I’ve not grown up myself and I just love them.
“If you’re thinking about it - give it a go – come and talk to people who’ve done it – go to the meetings – helping give something back and make a difference to a child life is just amazingly rewarding
Friends Lisa & Ann, South East Northumberland
Also enjoying the celebrations were Lisa and Ann who met through attending courses and support sessions over 20 years ago and have been firm friends ever since.
Lisa said: “We met from going on training courses and support groups together. If I’ve ever got any issues I just phone Ann, and she phones me if she has any too. It’s just good to hear that voice, hearing their thoughts on what the problem is can sometimes take the problems away.
“For me, the main rewards of fostering are seeing the child move on – to be happy and content and look after themselves or going on to university and achieving their ambitions. It makes me feel like I’ve done something to help them along the way that they may not have had otherwise.
“Every child is different, they all have different needs. Listening is, I think a big part of fostering – listening to what their needs are and thinking how you can meet them the best you can.”
Ann added: “It’s really important to have someone you know and trust that you can talk things through with. Over the years we’ve developed a really good friendship. We also meet up through the week to go out for dinner or to take the little ones to the park. We have made other friends through fostering too. It's been nice to get together with everyone after the pandemic and see new faces as well.
“I started fostering after I saw an advert in the paper. At first, I thought I might not to be able to foster as I was a single carer – but I rang anyway and found that I could.
“There are so many rewards. My main ones are the children that went on to become part of my extended family – and who I still see now. The other is seeing the difference between when a child arrives and when they move on to their new adoptive family.
“My advice to anyone who is interested in fostering, is to get in touch and find out as much information as you can - it's worth making that call.”
Jonny & Dean, South East Northumberland
Partners Jonny and Dean decided to apply to become long-term foster carers after feeling they had “so much more to give”.
Jonny said: “We currently have a little boy living with us who jokes every day that he’s going to stay with us until he’s an old man.
“Fostering brings a lot of special moments and those moments just blow you away.
“One that stands out was when I was teaching him how to brush his teeth properly and one night he turned round and said ‘you’re like my dad,’ and that was so lovely.
“It melts your heart and it’s those moments that make fostering worth it.”
Dean added: “We just felt we had so much more to give and we knew how many children were out there needing a loving home, so we decided to find out more.
“He’s changed our lives, we’re out and about more – going places and doing new things.
“We both work full time, so we applied to care for a child who was of school age.
“But it’s not about someone coming into your home and fitting in with your life – we’ve all lived different lives, so we have to blend into a new one and build a family together.”
Full list of winners recognised for going above and beyond for young people
Sophie and Emily, North Northumberland
Sophie and Emily have been fostering since 2015 and have shown exceptional patience, emotional resilience and dedication even in the toughest of times.
It is with great pleasure that we can present Sophie and Emily with this award in recognition of their dedication, stickability and commitment.
Barbara & Peter, North Northumberland
Barbara and Peter were approved as foster carers in 2015. Since this time, they have offered so many different placements - short term, respite as well as emergency placements and always with nurture and care - they’re awesome!
Shirley & Geoff Tucker, Alnwick
Shirley and Geoff were approved as foster carers in 2012. They are an extremely valuable asset to the fostering service and often step up to the mark when the fostering team have had nowhere else to turn.
The couple have been a huge support to the service and the young people we have placed with them.
Pauline & Kev, Alnwick
Pauline and Kev began their fostering career in 2006 and have just recently retired after caring for 40 children as a combination of fulltime placements, respite and emergency overnights.
We are grateful to Pauline and Kev for the high level of care they have provided to all the children they have cared for and we are proud to present this award to them and to also wish them a happy retirement.
Louise Bradley - South Tyneside
Louise came forward to foster in 2020 when the pandemic struck, using this opportunity to help others in what was a very uncertain and challenging time.
The pandemic was a challenge for all, but it is fantastic to know that good things have also come from the experience.
Karen & Keith, South East Northumberland
Karen and Keith were approved as foster carers in 2006. Since this time, they have offered so many placements to children of different ages and have recently been caring for four children, two sets of siblings – (not for the first time) and are commended for the care and nurture they offer.
Karen and Keith have gone above and beyond, and we would like to thank then with this award.
Chris & Andy, Morpeth
Chris and Andy were newly approved carers in January 2021. Chris and Andy's resilience and commitment to fostering has and continues to amaze us and it is with huge thanks that we present this award to them.
Our next face-to-face "Is fostering for me?" event:
The "Is fostering for me?" event is an informal session which aims to answer your initial questions about foster care - the process and the role. Foster families join us to chat about their experiences, along with other members of the team. You don't have to ask any questions - you can simply join us and hear more about fostering.
While we need more foster carers urgently for all ages of children, particularly school age children, sibling groups and long term permanent homes for children who cannot return home - there’s no pressure to start the process. We know foster care is very different from any other job, so we are here to help you decide if foster care is for you.
If you can't make the next session - you can always call Caroline our recruitment officer to have a chat about your circumstances and options with the different types of foster care. Please call 01670 62 62 62 or message 07779 983 165.