17th June 2022
Foster carers from across Northern Ireland recently came together at The Fostering Network’s Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards at Galgorm, co hosted by HSC NI Foster Care. A number of foster carers and kinship foster carers received special recognition for their outstanding contribution to fostering at the event.
Foster care makes a real difference to children and young people’s lives, with foster carers offering safe and nurturing homes where they can develop, thrive and reach their potential.
Una Carragher, Manager of HSC NI Foster Care Central Service said: “We are delighted to finally be back having face to face awards after a two year break due to the pandemic. It was great to have so many of our foster carers at this event receiving the recognition they deserve. We know how difficult the past few years have been for them and we’re in awe of how they have continued to go above and beyond for the children and young people they support and care for.”
One young person who nominated her foster carers for an award penned a heartfelt letter to them:
“Thank you for always putting yourself second so that I could be put first. Thank you for always treating us like one of your own. Thank you for providing food, shelter and clothes to wear for us. Thank you for giving me a place to call home that I knew was safe and that I was loved.
Living with this couple I was given the best opportunities any child could have. I got my A levels, went on holidays every year, had a caravan where I have made life long friends who I still meet up with, spent every Christmas with a smile on my face knowing that I had people who loved and cared about me, always had good home cooked meals and lunches prepared for us to take to school.
I am now studying nursing and this would have been impossible without them beside me.”
Photos from NI Foster Care Awards 2022
Special Recognition Award
Alan & Claire Currie
Excellence in Kinship Care
Darren Roy & Kerrie Haughey
Excellence in Foster Care
Pauline and Jimmy Logan
Lifetime Achievement Award Marian Corr
Excellence in Foster Care
Karen and Fiona Young
Excellence in Foster Care Stephen and Faye Neville
Excellence in Kinship Care Sean Daly
Excellence in Foster Care
George and Julie Mullan with Una Carragher (Manager, HSC NI Foster Care Central Service) and Kathleen Toner (Director of The Fostering Network in NI)
Excellence in Kinship Care
Neil and Kareen Doherty
With an increase in the number of children and young people coming into care, the need for foster carers is greater than ever. Children and young people may need fostered for a few days or weeks, a few months or until they reach independence, so there are different ways you can help depending on your lifestyle and family circumstances.
We welcome enquiries to foster from people from all backgrounds regardless of marital, employment or home ownership status, or whether you are a parent or not. Applications are considered from any race, religion, language, culture, gender, disability, age or sexual orientation. Foster carers receive ongoing training and support along with fostering allowances.
For more information call us on 0800 0720 137 or fill out our short online enquiry form