Celebrating at the civic reception for Moray’s foster carers are (front from left) Councillor Bridget Mustard, Myfi Treacy-Plain, Emma Plain and Councillor Kathleen Robertson, with (back from left) Moray Council Executive Karen Greaves BEM, Chief Social Work Officer Jim Lyon and Carl Campbell, Social Work Service Manager.
Moray Council and Moray Integration Joint Board have paid tribute to local foster carers at a special civic reception celebrating their dedication, compassion and life-changing impact on children and young people.
The event, hosted in Elgin on Wednesday 5 November, brought together foster carers, elected members, board members and officers to recognise the extraordinary contribution foster carers make to families and communities across Moray.
Opening the reception, Councillor John Cowe, Moray Council Civic Leader, offered heartfelt thanks on behalf of corporate parents and the wider community.
“Today is a very special occasion – an opportunity to recognise, celebrate, and most importantly, to thank you, Moray’s foster carers, for the incredible difference you make in the lives of children and young people across our communities'” he said.
“You provide love, stability, and the chance for children to simply be children. You offer that sense of belonging and support that helps young people to thrive. You change lives.”
Councillor Kathleen Robertson, Leader of Moray Council, and Councillor Bridget Mustard, Joint Chair of Moray Integration Joint Board, joined Councillor Cowe in presenting foster carers with a commemorative gift and copy of a poem written by Kristen Duncan, Fostering Team Manager at Health & Social Care Moray (HSCM).
Foster carer Emma Plain, who has been fostering for five years, shared her reflections on the rewards and challenges of the role.
“Sometimes it’s really hard to make that connection with a young person at first, but there’s always a seed that’s sown – and when it grows, it’s amazing.
“We’ve been part of success stories and some that didn’t go as we hoped, but all of our foster children leave a hole when they move on. Fostering has its troughs and sadness, but also enormous joy. I’m proud to be part of their journeys, and we learn so much from them.”
Emma’s daughter, Myfi Treacy-Plain, has grown up as part of a fostering household and her family is currently caring for four young children.
“They bring a nice kind of chaos and a lovely energy to our home. Once it’s part of your life, you can’t imagine being without it. They light up my world and make everything better. They’re my siblings, and I love them like siblings,” she said.
Sixteen-year-old Antony Lewis, who has lived with foster carers Alison and Gordon George for 12 years, spoke about the positive impact fostering has had on his life.
“I automatically felt comfortable with them and safe. Because of them, I’ve had opportunities to travel, meet people, play sport, study and get a job. I’m a confident, active person but without them I wouldn’t be anywhere, I’d be sitting in my room doing nothing,” Anthony said.
“Alison and Gordon have taught me how to be open, how to express myself – pretty much everything I know today. They’re my favourite people in the world.”
Cllr Mustard praised the selflessness and compassion of foster carers.
“You are caring for others with no obligation – opening your homes and lives to other people’s children and welcoming them into a loving, caring environment,” she said.
“You provide safe, nurturing homes and are part of a wider network of support. You are advocates, confidantes and cheerleaders for the children in your care. You balance so much in your own lives, yet you still give so much of yourselves. The patience, the love and the skills you bring are remarkable.”
Jim Lyon, Moray’s Chief Social Work Officer and Head of Service for HSCM, spoke of the privilege of working alongside foster carers and getting to know them, their birth children and the care-experienced young people they foster.
“The care and love you give to our children and young people is phenomenal. You are raising our children, building lifelong attachments, and creating bonds that few people ever have the opportunity to make,” he said.
“The words that struck me most when listening to everyone today were happy and loved – and when we hear that children are happy and loved, we can ask no more.”
Following the ceremony, music chosen by young people and staff was performed by Eileen Rodgers, a support worker with HSCM’s Throughcare Aftercare Team. Afterwards, an apple tree was planted in Cooper Park in Elgin, symbolising roots, growth and blossoming lives as a living tribute to the bonds created through fostering.
The civic reception also aimed to raise awareness of fostering and encourage more people in Moray to consider whether they could offer a safe and stable home to a child or young person.
Cllr Cowe added: “Children thrive in families, and finding people who can offer a loving, local home is so important. Fostering can fit around real lives – with flexible options, strong support networks, and a whole team of people here in Moray ready to walk alongside you every step of the way.”
There’s no such thing as a typical foster carer and there are many different ways to foster, from full-time care to respite care, making it flexible and accessible for all kinds of people. If you’re over 21, have a spare room and the time, commitment and enthusiasm to support a child or young person, the HSCM Fostering Service would love to hear from you.
To find out how fostering could fit into your life, call 01343 563568 to speak to the team, or drop an email to DutyPlacementServices@moray.gov.uk. You’ll find more information about who can foster, the different types of foster care, training, support and allowances on the Fostering pages of the Moray Council website.
