The Fostering Network is calling for nominations for its first annual Fostering Excellence Awards in England and Wales to be held in October.

The Fostering Excellence Awards will recognise and celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement in foster care, honour the achievements of young care leavers and acknowledge the valuable contribution that sons and daughters make to the fostering household.

There are three award categories:

Fostering Achievement Award: This is for young people who have left care in the last 12 months who have achieved and succeeded against the odds on their journey through foster care.

Outstanding Contribution to Foster Care Award: Here at The Fostering Network we are reminded every day that foster carers are all amazing people, so for this award we are looking for foster carers who have made an exceptional contribution to foster care in the last 12 months, or who have achieved something truly outstanding.

Fostering Sons and Daughters Award: This is a very special award that recognises the unsung heroes of fostering who can make a real and lasting impact on the lives of fostered young people living with their family.

We are also looking for fostering services, and individual foster carers, to nominate foster carers who have been fostering for forty years or longer (1974 or before) and who are members of The Fostering Network to receive a certificate from The Fostering Network to recognise their achievement. You can nominate foster carers who have fostered for forty years by visiting our website.

Lucy Peake, director of development at The Fostering Network, said: “These awards are a chance for the wider fostering community to come together and applaud people who show dedication and commitment and always strive to help and support others.

“It is always a difficult job highlighting just a few foster carers for recognition, but we believe that it is important to highlight the work that the wider fostering community does and the benefits that fostering can bring to young people and their foster carers. These awards are just one way that we will be doing that throughout our 40th year.”

The Outstanding Contribution to Foster Care Award is sponsored by Endsleigh.

You can find out more, and nominate people in each of the categories, on the awards page on our website.