Belfast awards recognise achievements of children in foster care

Children and young people from across the Belfast Trust area who are in foster care received awards for achievements in all aspects of life including academic, musical, sporting and social accomplishments.

Around 50 looked after children and young people joined Belfast Trust’s Fostering Service and Fostering Network Northern Ireland in taking part in the annual Fostering Achievement Awards in Belfast at the weekend. The Awards, were held at Belfast City Hall and were presented by Alderman Guy Spence, Deputy Lord Mayor.

Anne Deeny, Senior Social Worker Belfast Trust Fostering Service, who coordinated the ceremony said: “We are hugely proud of all the children and young people who received an award today.  Most of these children have experienced a degree of disruption and instability in their lives – their achievements in all aspects of life including sport, music and education are all the more impressive.”

She added: “Belfast Trust also wishes to acknowledge publicly the wonderful job foster carers do in giving children and young people the secure homes they need to develop their potential. We are extremely grateful to our foster carers who display great resilience and flexibility in the fostering task. We greatly value the contribution and efforts Belfast Trust foster carers make to the lives of children and young people.”

16 year old Callum Kernohan who has lived with his foster carer for the past four years said: “Three years ago I became interested in playing guitar and began to teach myself with the help of YouTube. When your home life is unstable it is not easy to achieve your goals – musical, sporting, studies, whatever. You can feel like you have no one on your side, you have no anchor. But it is one hundred percent true that with the support of foster carers who are always there for you, you can be who you want to be”.

Callum’s foster carer, Julie, is justly proud of his achievements. She said: “Callum was 13 when he came to stay with our family. His own home life had broken down and he was struggling with attendance and basic things such as getting his homework done. One of the most important things we have been able to provide him with is a stable home life and he has thrived.”
 
If you are interested in fostering for the Trust or would like to find out more please contact 028 9504 0057 or visit www.adoptionandfostering.hscni.net.

If you live outside of the Belfast area you can contact the Regional Adoption and Fostering Service on 0800 0720 137 who will put you in touch with your local Health and Social Care Trust fostering service. 

You can find out more about fostering by visiting: www.couldyoufoster.org.uk