6th October 2025
Foster carers from across Northern Ireland came together on Friday evening for the Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards at the Dunadry Hotel, Antrim hosted by The Fostering Network in partnership with HSC NI Foster Care.
In their nineteenth year, the awards recognise the pivotal role foster carers have in providing stability, love and care for children and young people in foster care. Of the thirteen awards presented, ten were awarded to our HSC NI foster carers and kinship foster carers for their outstanding contribution to fostering.
Kerrylee Weatherall, Director of Children’s Community Services who spoke on behalf of HSC NI Foster Care at the event said: “The NI Foster Care Awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our fostering community and recognise the outstanding contribution that foster carers make to the lives of children and young people. I am so proud of the dedication, resilience and compassion HSC NI foster carers show each and every day.
Foster carers quite simply transform lives. They support and encourage our children/young people in everything they do, offering a safe and nurturing home environment where children/young people can develop, thrive and reach their goals in life. We hope this event goes some way to showing foster carers how much we value them.”
Kerrylee Weatherall, Director of Children’s Services, Belfast Trust
Kathleen Toner, Director of The Fostering Network Northern Ireland, 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.”
Kathleen Toner, Director of The Fostering Network NI
Well done to all HSC NI foster carers nominated for an award and who received a certificate of excellence at the event in recognition of their services to fostering. It was truly a lovely evening, filled with plenty of laughter provided by our wonderful host and comedienne, Emer Maguire, and lots of inspiring stories of compassion, dedication and ‘going the extra mile’ for children and young people in foster care.
Host and comedienne, Emer Maguire
NI Foster Care Award winners below:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Bernie and Raymond Tracey (Western area)
L-R: Alison Smyth (Supervising Social Worker), Kathleen Toner (Director of Fostering Network NI), Catherine McKevitt (Head of Service for Fostering, Western area), Raymond & Bernie Tracey (foster carers), Tom Cassidy, (Director for Children and Families, Western Trust) & Caroline Bradley (Manager, Fostering Support Team)
Bernie and Raymond have provided loving homes to 46 children while raising their own three sons. Their kindness and commitment shine through with every child and young person they have cared for, including one young man who joined them at age three and still lives with them at 28.
Currently caring for two teenage boys, they have shown extraordinary compassion – especially supporting one child through the loss of his mother. They facilitated hospital visits, attended her funeral, and continue to honour her memory through visits to her grave and celebrating milestones.
Though unable to care for all six siblings, Bernie and Raymond go out of their way to maintain family connections, organising visits and planning a summer reunion. Their dedication to identity, belonging, and emotional support is unwavering.
Bernie and Raymond’s lifelong commitment to fostering has transformed lives and created lasting bonds. They truly embody the heart of foster care and said: “It has been an amazing journey and part of our lives, we can’t imagine us without any foster children and the joy they bring.”
*****
Special Recognition Award: Janet and John Kennedy (Belfast area)
L-R: Karen McQuillan (Principal Social Worker), Kevin Kane (Supervising Social Worker), Kerrylee Weatherall (Director of Children’s Community Services, Belfast Trust), Eimear Hanna (Head of Service for Fostering, Belfast), Janet & John Kennedy (foster carers), Kathleen Toner (Director of The Fostering Network NI) with Kathleen O’Reilly (Senior Social Worker)
Janet and John were nominated by their foster daughter Georgiana, now 28, who came into their care at the age of four and remained with them until she was 21. Georgiana describes her foster carers as unwavering in their support, especially during recent years when she faced significant health challenges.
She praises Janet and John for being there through every stage of her life – from magical childhood Christmases filled with gifts to helping her settle into her own home as a young adult. Their love, consistency, and care have made a lasting impact, and Georgiana credits them with giving her a second chance at life.
In her nomination, Georgiana said: “They have been there for me through thick and thin. I always tell people who say ‘sorry’ to me when I tell them I was in foster care, that it was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Without them in my life I wouldn’t be the woman I am today, and I probably wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t get taken into foster care! What I love about them is they get along so well with my dad and partner and always want what’s best for me.”
*****
Excellence in Kinship Care: Brenda Slowey and Brian Lennon (Belfast area)
L-R: Karen McQuillan (Principal Social Worker), Kerrylee Weatherall (Director of Children’s Community Services, Belfast Trust), Eimear Hanna (Head of Service for Fostering, Belfast), Brian Lennon & Brenda Slowey (foster carers), Kathleen Toner (Director of The Fostering Network NI), Shauna O’Neill (Senior Social Worker) & Briege Quinn (Principal Social Worker)
*****
Excellence in Kinship Care: Shauna and Christopher Rocks (Northern area)
L-R: Julie Patterson (Assistant Director, Corporate Parenting, Northern Trust) Nikki Gregg (Assistant Director, The Fostering Network NI), Shauna & Christopher Rocks (foster carers) with Julie Bell (Head of Service for Fostering, Northern area)
*****
Haley Excellence in Foster Care: Eithne and Brian Daly (Northern area)
L-R: Julie Patterson (Assistant Director, Corporate Parenting, Northern Trust), Nikki Gregg (Assistant Director of The Fostering Network NI), Toni McMullan, Eithne and Brian Daly (foster carers) with Julie Bell (Head of Service for Fostering, Northern area)
*****
Excellence in Kinship Care: Karen Russell (South Eastern area)
Lyn Preece (Director of Children’s Services and Executive Director of Social Work, SE Trust), Nikki Gregg (Assistant Director, The Fostering Network NI), Karen Russell (foster carer) with Nuala Hanna (Head of Service for Fostering, SE area)
*****
Angela Trimble Excellence in Foster Care: Ruth and Philip Clarke (South Eastern area)
L-R: Nuala Hanna (Head of Service for Fostering, SE area), Kathleen Toner (Director of The Fostering Network for NI), Ruth and Philip Clarke (foster carers), David Trimble (Social Worker) with Lynn Preece (Director of Children’s Services and Executive Director of Social Work, SE Trust)
*****
Excellence in Foster Care: Denise and Darryl Gorman (Southern area)
L-R: Kathleen Toner (Director of The Fostering Network NI), Denise & Darryl Gorman (foster carers) with Valerie Quinn (Supervising Social Worker, Southern area)
*****
Special Recognition in Kinship Care: Diane Lee (Southern area)
L-R: Kathleen Toner (Director of The Fostering Network NI), Diane Lee (foster carer) with Valerie Quinn (Supervising Social Worker, Southern area)
*****
Excellence in Kinship Care: Kathleen and Simon Coyle (Western area)
Western team with Simon & Kathleen Coyle (foster carers)