Larne couple honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award say fostering 'kept us young'
“Fostering keeps you young” was the message from a Larne couple as they were honoured at the Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards.
Diane and Pat McCourt picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony co-hosted by HSC NI Foster Care and The Fostering Network.
They have been foster carers for 45 years, dedicating much of their lives to providing care to children with complex needs. Many of the children they provided care for are still a part of their family today.
After an incredible commitment to fostering, they have made the difficult decision to retire. Earlier this year, in June, they were awarded an MBE for services to foster care by King Charles.
Pat and Diane recently attended the wedding of one of the young people they cared for, who asked Pat to walk her down the aisle.
And as they come to the end of their fostering journey, the couple advise others who are considering fostering to give it a go. They said: “Fostering is lots of fun. We did things we wouldn’t otherwise have done. It has kept us young.”
Now in their eighteenth year, the awards recognise the critical role foster carers have in providing stability, love and care for children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families.
Kerrylee Weatherall, interim director of Children’s Community Services, who represented HSC NI Foster Care at the event, said: “By providing safe and nurturing home environments, foster carers are helping to transform lives; giving children and young people a chance to build their confidence, develop their talents and be ambitious for their future.”
Kathleen Toner, director of The Fostering Network Northern Ireland, said: “It is a true honour to be able to recognise these incredible foster carers and kinship carers in this way. Every winner has gone above and beyond for the children and young people in their care, and I hope they are really proud of themselves.
“Being foster carers and kinship carers isn’t always easy, it’s a 24-hour job, so I would like to say thank you to the winners, and all foster and kinship carers, for their hard work and dedication."