Kirklees celebrate fostering in style with Tracy Brabin, Labour  Candidate in the Batley and Spen By-election and Michael Lawrence from Huddersfield Giants.

Over 100 foster carers from across Kirklees came together to celebrate the work they do and to take part in an awards ceremony which honoured service to Kirklees Council.  The evening was hosted by Colleen Callaghan, chairperson for the Kirklees Fostering Network (KFN) and Keith Fielding KFN committee member.   The KFN is a registered charity which is run by foster carers for foster carers. 

The glitzy event was held at the Ponderosa Lakeside Restaurant in Heckmondwike and some of those to be honoured included Pam and Len Pattison for 25 years’ service in fostering.

Tracy Brabin, Labour’s candidate in the forthcoming  Batley and Spen by-election was on-hand to show her support and delivered a heart-warming speech saying ‘foster carers do an amazing job’.  Huddersfield Giants player Michael Lawerence presented foster carer Lynsey Kinnear with the Yummy Mummy Award.   Also attending was Leader of Kirklees Council David Sheard and former Mayor and Mayoress Paul Kane and Susan Bedford.

In a comment from GMB trade union, which represents foster carers in the authority, Rachel Harrison, Lead Organiser for foster carers, said: “We have worked with Kirklees foster carers in the past to help them with a number of issues and events like this show that working together we can make fostering for Kirklees a positive experience for everyone.”