To celebrate and honour the fantastic work foster carers do, the Foster4 team held an afternoon tea at The Village Hotel, Warrington to thank them for their commitment to providing safe and loving homes for children and young people.
The event saw four families celebrated for 35 years’ service, Joan Jones and Alf Goodwin and Janet and Dave Quinn who foster with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Louise and Billy Connolly who foster with Halton Borough Council and Pauline and Alan Spreadbury who foster with Warrington Borough Council.
Other awards on the day included ‘Outstanding Contribution’ presented to Sue Dawson who fosters with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Paula and Robert Wright who foster with Halton Borough Council and Janet Smith who fosters with Warrington Borough Council, and ‘Kinship Carer Above and Beyond’ presented to Elaine & Jimi Boyle who foster with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Pete and Elaine Lynch who foster with Halton Borough Council and Marie Briggs and Julie Hewitt who foster with Warrington Borough Council.
Guests enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea and were treated to a live performance from pianist Jack Bell, a care experienced young person from Warrington.
Gemma Gerrish, Director of Children’s Social Care at Cheshire West and Chester said: “Our Foster 4 celebration afternoon tea was a success and a key opportunity to celebrate our incredible foster carers. We always look forward to this event as it’s a chance for us to recognise the hard work and dedication of our foster carers and their families. They provide supportive and loving homes for our children who need them most and its occasions like this that allow us the opportunity to show them just a small element for the huge thanks they deserve. We always need more people to step forward to be foster carers, but to see the length of time many are dedicating to fostering shows how rewarding the role is and how much people enjoy it. They are our home based heroes!”
Cllr Adam Langan, Lead Member for Children and Families at Cheshire West and Chester, said: “Becoming a foster carer is an incredible privilege, and a wonderful role. Our foster carers open up their homes and their hearts, to some of our most vulnerable children and by doing so really do make a huge difference in a child’s life. Foster carers deserve endless recognition for the positive impacts they have upon children’s lives, so it’s only right that as a council we celebrate them at events like this one. I would urge anyone considering fostering to get in touch with the Foster4 team. You’ll be well supported from the team and from our partners in helping children to thrive.”
To foster a child, you need to be 21 or over and be able to provide a supportive, safe, and loving home and have the time and patience to dedicate to the children that you care for. Foster carers are needed from all backgrounds, including from the LGBTQ+ community, single people, couples, people who own their home or rent. If you feel you could make a difference to a child’s life, contact the dedicated regional support hub Foster4: visit www.foster4.co.uk or call 03456460098.
