Foster care awards

Pauline and Dave Grey received The Fostering Service award for Newcomers, while Maria and Mark Wells were Outstanding Carers of the Year.

The awards were presented by radio and TV personality Mike Read at a ceremony in the Cavendish Hotel in Eastbourne.

Pauline and Dave, who live near Turkey Road, were surprised to have won the award having only begun fostering in May.

Pauline, 62, said: "I had a foster brother when I was nine or ten, and I knew from then I wanted to do it myself when I was older. I wish I had done it before now but life didn't present itself with an opportunity to do it until a few years ago."

They rang a fostering service number they saw in the newspaper and soon began a two year period of preparation which included vetting and courses in foster care.

Their first experience was with a brother and sister who stayed for a weekend, and since then they have looked after children from 6-16 years old.

Dave said: "They have all been great. I think the world of them '“ they are a lovely bunch of kids and we enjoy looking after them. It gives us joy."

Pauline added: "We get much more from then that they get from us. Each child we have teaches us something '“ we have a lot of laughs with them as well.

"We would also like to thank all the members of the East Sussex fostering team '“ they have been really nice to us, helpful and at the end of the phone 24 hours a day...they couldn't have given us any more, and have been wonderful."

Maria Wells told the Observer: "It is a great honour to be awarded Outstanding Foster Carer of the year.

"Mark andI always said that when we married if we could not have a family of our own wewould foster.

"Weare fortunate to havethreebirth children who supportus in the fostering role. We are a very close family and without their support we feel that we would not be able to offer as much as we do to the children we care for. It is not just Mark and I that foster, it is the whole family including members off our wider family... grannies, granddads and aunts and uncles are really important.

"Itwas my parentswho first opened my eyes to the need forfoster carers as they for a short timehad been foster carers for teenagers who were experiencing difficulties, and were unable to live within their families.

"I recall several occasions whenmy mum wouldrun out at night to retrieve a lad from the local police station, or spend part of the night supporting a young person who was finding life difficult.

"Fostering is our life,we enjoy every moment with its ups and downs.We have been fortunate to be part of a team that finds permanency homes for babies and young children. Whilst we are really happy that they have a 'new family' I sometimes find myself havingtearful cups of tea with mySupervising SocialWorker when the child moves on to a new family.

"Working with Children'sServices has opened our eyes to the neglect and cruelty that children can suffer, may it be physical, emotional or both. There is a need for morefoster carers andwhilst we have many challengeswe also have lots of laughs, fun and successes.

"Knowing you have helped achildand give them a better chance in life, cannot be a greater sense of achievement.

"The staff at East Sussex County Council's Fostering Service are always available to offer support, we have a good training programmeand feel without that support life would be more difficult. "Would we as a family recommend fostering, the answer is definitely -yes!"

If you are interested in hearing more contact the Fostering team on 01323 747407.