ESSEX County Council hosted a special event for foster carers from across the county. Over 100 foster carers gathered for a day of celebrations at the Channels Estate in Chelmsford.

Awards were presented across six inspiring categories, including:

• providing emergency placements for young people in crisis
• supporting children with additional needs to reach their potential
• working with adopters to support successful transitions
• awards for foster carers dedicating 25 to 45 years’ long service

Young people in care also took to the stage to speak about why their foster carers had been nominated.

Helen Lincoln, Executive Director for Children, Families and Education at Essex County Council, presented awards alongside Sukriti Sen, Director of Local Delivery. Helen Lincoln said: “It has been a pleasure to host this special awards celebration for local foster carers. The event is shining a light on foster carers supporting Essex’s vulnerable children. They are inspiring and committed, it’s an amazing role. We thank every foster carer for their dedication.”

Irene and Clifford Sapsford from Tendring were celebrated with a Long Service Award for an incredible 45 years as foster carers, supporting over 100 vulnerable children in care. Irene and Clifford began fostering in the seventies while raising their two sons; now they are grandparents and still fostering children of all ages.

Speaking about their award win, Irene Sapsford said: “We’re honoured to be recognised. I would recommend fostering to everybody, it’s just brilliant what you achieve and to see the children blossom. 45 years is a long time but it’s gone very quick, it’s so rewarding, especially when they go off to a happy home. I’m a big kid at heart so caring for children and making a difference is how we stay young!”

In Mid-Essex, Carly and Keith McHugh from St Lawrence were awarded for ‘Enabling children’s voices to be heard’. The couple were praised for going ‘above and beyond’ as carers for two babies and a third foster child, alongside their own young son. They have built positive and calming relationships with birth families, and even took the time to visit NICU, build a bond and advocate for the babies before they reached their care.

Speaking at the event, Carly McHugh said: “We’re amazed to win this award, it’s lovely to have that appreciation and to hear all the other nominations too. Fostering is something we always thought about, we began fostering five years ago while our own son was very young and it’s been a real positive experience. It’s an important role to help these children and we all want to do our best.”

Also in Mid-Essex, Kaylie and Simon Barber won an award for ‘Working with adopters to support successful transitions’. The couple have been fostering for eight years, alongside raising their three young children, and they have transitioned a number of babies and children into adoption. They were praised for being ‘altruistic and child-centred’, advocating for the child’s needs and making time to build solid relationships with adopting families, while continuing to be an active part of the children’s lives as they grow. 

“We have always been passionate about fostering, it’s something we always wanted to do, so we started in our mid-twenties while our three children were still very young. It’s had a massive positive impact on all our lives and it’s just lovely to be recognised with this award. Fostering is a lifestyle but it’s the best thing in our lives, it brings so much joy.”

In South Essex, Cheryl and Gary Cousins were awarded for ‘Providing emergency placements and supporting children in crisis’. Cheryl and Gary were recognised for their outstanding care and always putting the children first. They often welcome children at short notice and were praised for going above and beyond to accommodate children with diverse needs, and those who have experienced trauma. The couple are highly committed to the children, advocating for their best interests, and ‘navigating any challenges with a smile’.

Speaking at the event, Gary Cousins said: “I used to work in a school for 10 years and I was naïve to think children have everything they need, like a clean uniform and food at home. I wanted to make a real difference and that’s where we thought about fostering.

“It’s so rewarding and there are too many children out there, unfortunately, that need foster carers so if anyone has go a spare room, I say just go for it. You get lots of support and new friendship groups, you become part of a fostering family. While you’re changing children’s lives, it’s also changing your life too.”

In North Essex, Angela Woodhead was awarded for ‘Supporting children with additional needs to reach their potential’. Angela met her first foster child in hospital while he recovered from chronic malnutrition and significant trauma. Angela has built a strong connection with her foster child and has developed such a safe, loving and therapeutic relationship where they can thrive, make friends, attend mainstream school and feel loved as part of a family for the first time.

Speaking at the event, Angela Woodhead said: “It’s really humbling to win this award. My husband and I raised six children of our own, they’ve all grown up now but it felt like that part of our lives wasn’t over yet.

“We’re used to a busy home with children around so we began fostering four years ago, and the first young lad we fostered has become a part of our family. He didn’t know what it was to be loved and now he does. That’s why we do it.”

In West Essex, Vicky and Jeremy Newell were nominated for ‘Meeting the ethnic, racial, cultural and religious needs of children and young people from diverse backgrounds’. The couple took on a separated migrant child last year, where they immediately researched the child’s culture and religious needs, and then took a family trip to London to explore familiar cultural clothing and food shops. Vicky and Jeremy have remained a strong advocate for the child, encouraging interpreters in school so the child can integrate fully, and arranging frequent contact with the child’s sibling so they can connect with their culture and family.

Speaking at the event, Vicky Newell said: “It’s been really surprising to be nominated and it’s nice to be recognised. We have five children of our own and we had friends that were foster carers, so we made the initial enquiry and went from there. Our children have been very encouraging, we feel fostering has really enriched all our lives.”

More vulnerable children are coming into care and Essex needs more foster carers like Irene and Clifford. Fostering is an inclusive role, open to all ages, genders, ethnicities and family types. To find out more about becoming a foster carer, visit www.essex.gov.uk/foster or call 0800 801 530.