Nominations open for foster carer awards

Know a foster carer with an inspiring story who has done some amazing work caring for children?

Durham County Council is looking for nominations for foster carers to be recognised at an awards ceremony.

Next month, the local authority will be hosting its Foster Care Star Awards, which recognises the outstanding achievements of foster carers and their families who have welcomed young people into their homes and lives.

People have until Sunday, February 13, to submit nominations for foster carers in County Durham who have gone to amazing lengths to make a difference for the children in their care.

The search will culminate in a ceremony at Gala Durham in March, where over 100 carers and their families will receive awards for long-service, outstanding achievements, and all-round support.

As the event could not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s ceremony will recognise more carers for their efforts to help young people reach their full potential.

A new, publicly nominated award will also be given to the foster family seen as having gone ‘above and beyond’ in making a child feel comfortable, safe, and secure in their new family home.

Cllr Ted Henderson, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “All of our foster care families do amazing things every single day to give young people a home not just to live in, but to genuinely feel part of.

“Some of our carers have over 30 years’ experience of fostering in the county, which is an amazing achievement, but we are also seeing younger people just starting their foster care journeys and others changing careers to care.

“I would urge anyone who knows a foster care family helping a young person to reach their full potential to nominate them for an award.

“March’s event promises to be a wonderful evening and I am very much looking forward to meeting all of our fantastic fostering families.”

Anyone wanting to nominate a fostering family for an award should email [email protected].

There are currently over 250 fostering families within the county, but the council is continuing its efforts to recruit even more foster carers.

Foster carers receive a wealth of support, training, and advice from the council’s fostering team, as well as competitive fees and allowances and access to a range of other support services.