Plymouth’s fostering team celebrate as two of their carers scoop city award

Plymouth’s fostering team are celebrating this morning after two of their foster carers were presented with the overall Pride of Plymouth Award.

Pam and Gyln Dale were given the accolade for their dedication in helping change the lives of some of the city’s most vulnerable children. But the couple who have fostered 11 children over the last seven years, didn’t want to be singled out for the work they do in fostering and wanted to accept it on behalf of all the city’s foster carers. There are currently 162 fostering households in Plymouth who all give huge amounts of time and dedication in helping to care for some of the cities most traumatised children.

Speaking after she collected the award Pam said: “Although I was a little cross when I first found out I had been nominated because I don’t foster for the recognition or praise, I’ve realised that this is giving me the opportunity to speak out about fostering and share the great work we all do. There’s a desperate need for more foster carers to come forward and I hope this will encourage more people to think about starting their own fostering journey. Foster carers are ordinary people like me, my husband and the hundreds of others in Plymouth who have chosen to do something extraordinary!”

Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “I’m delighted that Pam and Glyn have been recognised for their amazing commitment to fostering over the years. I know they were both hesitant about being singled out, as they don’t choose to foster for praise or recognition, but I’m thrilled that the overall Pride of Plymouth award be given to a foster carer. It's an challenging but rewarding role carried our by wonderful, caring people."

More foster carers urgently needed. Right now in Plymouth there’s more than 380 children in care, some of whom may have suffered abuse or neglect or been caught at the centre of a family crisis. That means there’s an on-going need to recruit more foster carers.

Plymouth City Council’s foster carers need to be able to understand the impact of a child or young person’s life experiences on their development in order to know how best to help them. Foster carers are ordinary people who have chosen to do something extraordinary!

Find out more by visiting the Council's brand new fostering website at www.fosterforplymouth.co.uk