Foster with Flintshire Blog: July 2016

It's days like today that remind me why we do what we do.

It's our awards day for children in foster care, and 20 local Council social workers are hurriedly preparing the marquee for our 10th annual Pride of Flintshire awards.

These are the success stories of children in foster care that you don't read about in the papers. These stories don't make headlines but they mean so much to the children, their foster carers, social workers and families, and it's a day to celebrate.

Today it's all about the kids, and celebrating the achievements of over 200 looked-after children and care leavers in Flintshire. Despite everything they are going through in their young lives, these children have still managed to achieve in sport, music, dance, drama, taken time to help others and are doing well in school.

Today they are receiving certificates for achieving 100% school attendance, being sports team captain, raising money for children in Africa, law student of the year, performing at the eisteddfod...

Some of the achievements might not sound like much, but when you know what that child has been through, and the journey they've been on, these little things mean a lot.

The day also celebrates those children who are now grown up and successfully living in their own flat, with a job and their own family. One care leaver is performing the Bryan Adams song “heaven” in front of over 200 people, and the words couldn’t be more poignant.

“Oh once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down

Now our dreams are comin' true
Through the good times and the bad
Yeah I'll be standin' there by you”

We've been doing these awards for 10 years and yet when we see the smiles on the children faces, there’s not a dry eye in the house.