Award-winning carers show the difference fostering can make to a child's life

Dorset Council has celebrated the dedication of local foster carers and supported lodgings providers at its annual Foster Carer Awards Evening, while encouraging more residents to consider whether they could offer a home to a child or young person in need.

The awards recognised the people who provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for Dorset children and young people who cannot live with their birth families. Foster carers support children of all ages, while supported lodgings providers help young people age 18-25 to develop the confidence and life skills they need as they move towards independence.

This year, 28 households received long-service awards, representing an incredible 449 years of combined fostering and supported lodgings experience. Together, they have supported hundreds of children and young people, helping them feel safe, valued and able to reach their potential.

Among those recognised was one fostering household that has been fostering with Dorset Council for more than 40 years, demonstrating the lasting difference carers can make to the lives of children and families across generations.

The celebration comes as Dorset Council continues its ‘See Yourself Fostering’ campaign, which aims to challenge common myths about fostering and encourage more local people to consider becoming carers.

The campaign highlights that foster carers come from many different backgrounds and life experiences. What matters most is having the right values, patience and commitment to support a child or young person when they need it most. Full training, financial support and ongoing guidance are provided by Dorset Council.

Paul Dempsey, Dorset Council's Executive Director for Children’s Services, said:

"The people we celebrated have made a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people across Dorset. Their compassion, commitment and resilience deserve recognition, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they do.

"Their stories also show that there is no single type of foster carer. Many people already have the skills needed to foster through their experience as parents, grandparents, carers, teachers, youth leaders or simply through everyday life.

"Through our See Yourself Fostering campaign, we're asking people to look at the qualities that make a great foster carer and think: could that be me? We need more local people to come forward so that more Dorset children can stay close to their schools, friends and communities ."

Anyone interested in finding out more about fostering or supported lodgings can speak to Dorset Council's fostering team to learn more about the support available and the difference they could make to a young person's future. Visit www.fosterwithdorsetcouncil.com for more information.