Eleven carers who between them have spent over 100 years fostering children have been honoured by Salford City Council.
Foster parents are becoming increasingly important in Salford as the numbers of children who need safe, secure, long-term homes rises.
As a city, we need 40 new foster carers every year, just to keep up with local demand.
Joan and David Ascroft from Bolton have been fostering for 45 years. They were awarded along with
Linda and Raymond Glascoe from Swinton and Janice Swindells from Worsley for 20 years service to the city, as well as Joanne and David Done from Worsley, Jeanette and Jim Dowling also from Bolton and Josephine and Michael O’Malley who have all fostered for 10 years.
It’s the third year running the awards have been given to say thank you to local foster carers who make such a difference to children’s lives.
Councillor Lisa Stone, lead member for children’s and young people’s services, said: “Foster carers are unsung heroes who provide everything from emergency care to weekend breaks or a home for life and we can’t thank them enough.
“Some take children for weekends to give them and their families a break while others care for children for short periods of time until a family member is over a hospital admission or a family crisis is sorted out and they can go back home.
“And, where children can’t stay with their birth family for a variety of reasons, other foster carers take them in long-term and provide the safe, caring and supportive home and guidance they need until they reach adulthood.
“I hope the dedication that these long serving foster carers will inspire new people to come forward and follow in their footsteps. Helping a child or young person in need is one of the most rewarding things anyone can do.”
Anyone interested in fostering should call Salford City Council’s family placement team on 0161 799 1268 or visit the Salford Foster Care website
