Foster carers who, between them, have clocked up a total of 465 years supporting children and young people across the borough have been recognised by Rochdale Borough Council.
A total of 34 fostering families were honoured at the council’s recent annual Foster Carer Celebration Awards at Rochdale Town Hall in gratitude for their outstanding commitment to providing safe, stable and nurturing homes for some of the most vulnerable.
Between all the carers, it is estimated they have supported more than 1,020 children and young people from newborn to 18, while working with the local authority.
Among those celebrating their individual milestones was Michael, aged 79, and Marilyn, aged 75, who are marking an incredible 50 years. Predominantly caring for newborn babies and siblings since 1976, the married couple from Milnrow have cared for more than 330 children in that time with no signs yet of them slowing down.
“How long is a piece of string?” Marilyn joked when asked how long she will continue to foster for, before adding she would really miss fostering.
"We’ve been to their weddings, adoption parties, christenings, 18th and 21st birthday parties.
“It’s lovely when you think you started off with them as a baby and now, they’ve grown.
“We’ve had letters from adoptive parents saying, ‘They’ve turned out like they have because of you’ which is nice.”
Adding to their reflection as foster carers, Michael said: “We feel privileged and proud.”
Ian (left) and Carole McLean (right) celebrate 40 years of fostering with Rochdale Borough Council.
Another couple who have kindly dedicated their lives to providing a safe and stable home to those who need it the most, is Carole, aged (65) and Ian (67) McLean from Rochdale, who are celebrating 40 years.
Looking back at their own experience as foster carers, Ian said:
“When the children do go, they always take something with them of us because we give them that stability, assistance and support.
“We even give them support when they’ve gone and we’ve got a number of former foster children that we class as family and they call us mum and dad, I’ve even given 2 of them away at their weddings.”
Among many more memorable moments they have shared as foster carers, Carole was also the birthing partner to another former foster child, an experience she simply described as being ‘brilliant’ to be a part of.
In the 4 decades they have provided care, they have supported more than 200 children in total.
Richard (right) and Susan Shaw (left) retire from fostering with Rochdale Borough Council after 25 years.
Other special milestones celebrated during the event included Richard and Susan Shaw, who are retiring as foster carers after 25 years.
Speaking after the recent celebration event, Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children’s services and education, added:
"Our foster carers make an extraordinary difference to the lives of children and young people across our borough every single day and ‘Thank you’ simply isn’t a big enough expression for how grateful we are to them.
“The dedication, compassion and commitment shown by these families is truly inspiring, and these awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate everything they do.
"Whether they have been fostering for a few years or several decades, each and every one of them has helped provide the stability, care and support that children need to thrive.
“On behalf of Rochdale Borough Council, I would like to thank all our foster carers for the life-changing contribution they make to our communities."
Anyone over the age of 21 with a spare room in their home can become a foster carer and support those most in need.
To accommodate various lifestyles and commitments, Rochdale Borough Council, as part of Foster for Greater Manchester, also offers a number of different fostering arrangements from respite care to long-term fostering.
People with the determination to make a positive impact in a young person’s life and who would like to find out more about fostering with Rochdale Borough Council, can visit the Foster for Greater Manchester website or call.