Awards celebrate Leicestershire's foster carers

Going the extra mile has helped a number of foster carers to scoop special awards.

Around 70 foster carers took part in a ceremony yesterday at Leicestershire County Council to recognise those who have exceeded expectations.

Awards were presented to 20 people for supporting children, long service, helping children achieve positive outcomes and promoting foster care training.

Another seven received accolades after being nominated by their foster children.

Held during Foster Care Fortnight, the event is the first of its kind in Leicestershire and will be held every year.

Graham Hart, Leicestershire County Council's cabinet support member for the children and young people's service, said: "We value all of our foster carers who quite simply transform children's lives.

"Today's event is about recognising those who have gone beyond the call of duty and I'd like to thank them for their tireless commitment.

"Fostering is one of the most challenging but also rewarding things you can do and I hope the event inspires people to find out more about becoming a foster carer."

To find out more, please visit www.spaceforachild.com or call 0116 305 0505.

For more about Foster Care Fortnight, please visit www.couldyoufoster.org.uk/foster-care-fortnight .

The council recently launched a new foster care charter which lays out the support provided by the authority and the responsibilities of foster carers.

It takes between four and six months for new foster carers to be approved.

In the last 12 months, 300 children were fostered in the county - at any one time, we are looking for long term families for between 15 and 20 children.

Children need foster carers following a family crisis, if their parents become ill or if their family home is unsafe. This could involving caring for them for anything from a few days right though to the rest of their childhood.

Those who received awards include:

- Simon Pitcher from Heather

- Trish and Norman Marsland from East Goscote

- Maggie and Paul Belton from Shepshed

- Sam Bennett from Barwell

To set up interviews with our foster carers above, please contact the County Council's press office on 0116 305 6274 or email pressoffice@leics.gov.uk .