Celebrating dedication: Northern Ireland foster carers honoured at annual awards

Julie Patterson, Assistant Director for Corporate Parenting in the Northern Trust, Nikki Gregg, Assistant Director of The Fostering Network NI, Shauna and Christopher Rocks, winners of the excellence in kinship care award, and Julie Bell, Head of Service for Fostering in the Northern Trust.

Foster carers from across Northern Ireland have been celebrated at the Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards, hosted by The Fostering Network in partnership with HSC NI Foster Care.

Now in their nineteenth year, the awards recognise the invaluable contribution foster carers make in providing stability, love and care to children and young people.

This year, a number of HSC NI foster carers and kinship foster carers received special recognition for their remarkable dedication.

From the Northern Trust area, Shauna and Christopher Rocks were presented with the Excellence in Kinship Care Award, while Eithne and Brian Daly received the Hayley Award for Excellence in Foster Care.

Celebrating the fostering community

Speaking at the event, Kerrylee Weatherall, Director of Children’s Community Services, said:

“The NI Foster Care Awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our fostering community and recognise the outstanding contribution that foster carers make to the lives of children and young people. I am so proud of the dedication, resilience and compassion HSC NI foster carers show each and every day.

“Foster carers quite simply transform lives. They support and encourage our children/young people in everything they do, offering a safe and nurturing home environment where children/young people can develop, thrive and reach their goals in life. We hope this event goes some way to showing foster carers how much we value them.”

Kathleen Toner, Director of The Fostering Network Northern Ireland, also paid tribute to the award winners and the wider fostering community.

“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. You are an integral part of our fostering communities and we are so grateful for the work you do.”

Excellence in Kinship Care: Shauna and Christopher Rocks

Winners of the Excellence in Kinship Care Award, Shauna and Christopher Rocks have cared for three siblings since November 2017, creating a nurturing home where the children have truly thrived. They have provided love, stability and a sense of belonging, while supporting the children’s emotional wellbeing, education and community connections.

The couple’s advocacy has been life-changing — helping one of the children transition successfully into mainstream education, where he has since been nominated for the Open College Network Learner of the Year.

Recently, they extended their care to a seven-year-old child suffering from the effects of trauma, welcoming them into their home with compassion and cultural sensitivity.

The children describe Shauna and Christopher as “kind, loving, and life-changing.” Their quiet strength and unwavering commitment have transformed four young lives, embodying what it truly means to foster with heart.

Excellence in Foster Care: Eithne and Brian Daly

Julie Patterson, Assistant Director for Corporate Parenting in the Northern Trust, Nikki Gregg, Assistant Director of The Fostering Network NI, Toni McMullan, Eithne and Brian Daly, winners of the Haley award for excellence in foster care, Julie Bell, Head of Service for Fostering in the Northern Trust.

Eithne and Brian Daly, recipients of the Hayley Award for Excellence in Foster Care, have made a lasting impact on the lives of many children and young people over the past six years.

Motivated by Eithne’s professional background in fostering, the couple have provided care to 95 children and young people, from short-term placements to long-term support. Their thoughtful and sensitive approach has helped young people navigate difficult transitions, build trust and feel secure.

They have also shown cultural awareness, embracing the traditions and faiths of the children in their care. One young person described them as “pillars in every aspect… like family.”

The Dalys continue to maintain close relationships with children who have moved on, a testament to the enduring bonds they’ve built through empathy, respect and genuine care.

More foster carers urgently needed

The need for foster carers across Northern Ireland is greater than ever. HSC NI Foster Care is encouraging more people to consider opening their homes to children in need of stability and support.

For more information, call 0800 0720 137 or visit adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net to find out how to get involved.