Thank you to foster carers

At a special awards event, foster carers from across the county were thanked by the County Council, and the youngsters they care for, for their dedication and commitment to young people.

Among them were Bexhill couples Mark and Maria Wells, who were recognised as Outstanding Carers of the Year, and Pauline and David Grey won the Fostering Newcomers Award.

TV and radio celebrity, Mike Read, was the guest presenter at the 2008 Foster Carer Awards ceremony which was held at the Cavendish Hotel in Eastbourne.

More than 180 foster carers and staff attended the event which is one of a number held during the year by the Fostering Service to recognise the dedication and commitment of those who look after children in care in East Sussex.

As well as full-time foster carers, the event was also for people who help young people through the county's Children's Disability Short Break and Fostering service.

East Sussex County Council's Lead Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Cllr Meg Stroude, and the County Council's director of Children's Services, Matt Dunkley also attended.

In this year's Foster Carer Awards there were seven main award winners and 57 additional awards for carers who had been nominated by the children they have cared for. Some were able to attend the evening, others unfortunately could not.

Cllr Meg Stroude said: "This is a great event every year. Our foster carers devote so much time and love to the children they care for and this is just our way of saying thank you. All our foster carers deserve thanks and praise but every year I'm always touched by the nominations from the young people themselves. It's in their words that you see how important the role of the foster carers really is."

Below are some other excerpts from nomination letters sent by the children:

"They have stuck by me even when I wasn't the easiest child to look after and have done their best for me. I don't think anyone could get better foster parents"

"When I first came here it felt like wow, I had never felt so much at home than I did here."

"My foster carer is special because she looks after me and helps me live my day to day life. At home I feel safe and happy."

"They are special to me because they have helped me through some really rough patches of my life when no-one else did."

"They care about me and make a fuss of me when I need it. They are the best ever."

"They put up with a lot and it must be such hard work!"

"I have been welcomed and accepted as part of the family. I have had many difficulties in my life but she has helped me overcome these and bring me forward to a better and happier life. I love her with all my heart and always will do."

"She is really nice and she is always happy, cheerful and caring. She is really special because she believes in us"