The City of Wolverhampton Council's Fostering for Wolverhampton team recognised the service of their foster carers at the ‘For the Love of Fostering’ celebration evening at Molineux Stadium earlier this month.
Over 180 people attended the event and foster carers Julie Round and Matt Hatton, Emma and Stephen Goodwin, Yvonne and Geoff Finch, Tania and Christopher Guy, Julie and Martin Jefferies, Frances Rooney, Lynnette Swift, Yvonne Webb, Julie and Timothy Edwards, and Susan Edwards were commended for completing 10 years’ service.
Awards for 15 years' service were presented to Melissa and Barry Evans, Faye and Mick Downes, Enid Stone, Dawn Duggan, Karen and Chris Young, Diane and David Purchase, Mandy Parker and John Allen, Gwen Darlington, and Pauline Parker.
Gloria Corke, Joanne and Winston Palmer, Nora and Paul Williams-Riley, Elaine Homer, Angela and Craig Brown, Dulcie and David Phoenix, Sonia Greenaway, Daphne and Barry Richards, and Tracy and Mark Adams were commended for completing 20 years’ service.
Meanwhile, Angela Doughty, Sandra and Graham Cox, and Christine Asprey were all commended for an incredible 25 years’ service each as foster carers for Wolverhampton.
There was also a special thankyou and commendations for the city’s retiring foster carers Gillian and Andy Small, Linda and Graham Walker, Pauline Williams, Balbir and the late Shinda Singh, Heather and Geoff Fox, Elizabeth and Trevor Jones, Dorothy and Michael Humphries, Julie and Shaun Fitzpatrick, and Greer O’Connor.
The evening was opened by Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Greg Brackenridge and awards were presented by Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Councillor Beverley Momenabadi and the council's Chief Executive, Tim Johnson.
Councillor Momenabadi said: "I was delighted to celebrate the work our fantastic fosters carers do in Wolverhampton. These are very special people, and it was great to have the opportunity to personally thank them for their efforts on behalf of our city's children and young people and tell them what an inspiration they are to us all.
"We are very lucky to have so many fantastic foster carers in Wolverhampton who combine a desire to help children with a commitment to providing the best possible care and support for them.
"I would urge anyone who has considered fostering to speak to our Fostering for Wolverhampton team to find out more about this life changing role.”
Foster carers can be sole carers, married or in a relationship. Placements can be anything from a few days to several years, and they receive a regular, tax exempt allowance to cover the cost of bringing up the child.
Help and support is available from the Fostering for Wolverhampton team 24 hours a day, while first time foster carers also receive 6 months' "buddy support" from experienced carers who are there to guide them through the system.
People can find out more about fostering by visiting Fostering for Wolverhampton or by calling the Fostering for Wolverhampton team on 01902 551133.
