Scottish care leavers scoop national accolades
LONDON, UK / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 25, 2019 / Yesterday, Royal Navy recruit, Louise Dorsett and, Edinburgh graduate, Adam Bennett were saw their achievements recognised at the Fostering Excellence Awards ceremony in London.
The awards are hosted annually by the UK’s largest fostering charity, The Fostering Network, to celebrate outstanding contributions and achievements by members of the fostering community.
Louise, who won the Outstanding Achievement award, grew up in St Andrews and entered care aged six. As a young adult Louise decided to join the navy, taking extra entry assessments due to her colour blindness, and passed out of HMS Raleigh as Captain’s Best Recruit. She has gone on to support navy recruitment, being featured in the national advertising campaign, and is involved in a project looking at how the navy recruit more care leavers.
A keen sportswoman, Louise has represented the navy in numerous sports including skeleton, windsurfing and gymnastics, and will next year run an ultra-marathon to raise money for The Fostering Network. Louise is also passionate about the environment and animal welfare, regularly organising beach clean ups and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
Louise said: ‘It was such an amazing surprise to win this award and it has truly inspired me to keep pushing for what I believe in. I want other young people to have the same opportunities as I did.’
Joanne Pollard, Louise’s former foster carer who nominated her for the award, said: ‘Louise has a love of life and people and she has made a huge difference to our family. She is just starting out on a fantastic journey and I know she will go on to great things.’
Adam, who won the Outstanding Achievement in Education Award, came into foster care at 13. He passed his Standard Grades in the following years and gained fantastic results in his Highers which enabled him to enroll on a Business and Marketing course at the University of Edinburgh which he graduated from last year with a 2:1.
Adam now works with his local authority, looking at having care experienced children and young people’s voices heard as well as supporting the care review in Scotland as co-chair on Health and Wellbeing.
After receiving the award, Adam said: ‘I feel really privileged and honoured to be here. I think it’s really nice to meet other people who have done really inspirational stuff for fostering.
‘I think events like this are so valuable because they celebrate the achievements of people.
‘We often look at the problems of the care system but it’s really important to see that there are amazing things happening.’
Colin Brough, Adam’s foster carer who nominated him for the award, said: ‘Adam is a loving, confident and outgoing young man that has seized every opportunity put before him.
‘He is passionate about improving the care system and, in his words, “giving something back”. He wants to privilege the voices of those in care, so the systems around them hear them.’
Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: ‘Adam’s and Louise’s story illustrates the transformational power of foster care and shows how positive foster care can be for the outcomes of children and young people.
It is testament to both Adam and Louise’s character that they are passionate about improving the opportunities for those currently in care.
‘All our winners, as well as the wider fostering community, should be incredibly proud of their achievements and contributions in making foster care in the UK the very best it can be.’
Notes to Editors
For more information, interviews and pictures please email media@fostering.net or phone 020 7620 6441.
For video content please go to https://www.youtube.com/fosteringnetwork ensuring The Fostering Network is credited.
About Us
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity. We are the essential network for fostering, bringing together everyone who is involved in the lives of fostered children.
The Fostering Excellence Awards are the UK’s leading foster care awards. They celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement in fostering and recognise those who make exceptional contributions to foster care every year. Award categories include:
- Outstanding Achievement Award celebrates the achievements of a young person who has succeeded against the odds on their journey through foster care. Sponsored by Dreams.
- Outstanding Achievement in Education Award celebrates the achievements of a young person who has been in foster care and has succeeded in education. Sponsored by Sponsored by The Exilarch’s Foundation.
- Outstanding Contribution by a Foster Carer Award recognises a foster carer who has made an exceptional contribution to foster care. Sponsored by Mortgage Brain.
- Jon and Kathy Broad Award recognises the outstanding work of a foster carer who specialises in fostering children and young people with learning disabilities.
- Outstanding Contribution by a Social Worker Award recognises a social worker who has made an exceptional contribution to foster care.
- Outstanding Contribution by Sons and Daughters Award celebrates a son, daughter or sibling group who have gone the extra mile to support their parents or children and young people in foster care with their family.
- President’s Award celebrates people who have made an extraordinary contribution to foster care.
Over 65,000 children live with almost 55,000 foster families across the UK each day. An estimated 8,600 new foster families (550 in Wales) are needed across the UK over the next 12 months alone to provide stable, secure and loving homes for fostered children.
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