Moray Health & Social Care Partnership is celebrating Foster Care Fortnight (11–24 May) by shining a spotlight on the extraordinary dedication of Moray’s fostering community and encouraging more people to consider becoming a foster carer.
This year’s national theme, “This is Fostering,” highlights the everyday realities of fostering and the life‑changing difference foster carers make to children and young people.
Across Moray, foster carers open their homes – and their hearts – to provide safe, stable and nurturing environments at times when children need them most.
As part of the annual campaign, Moray Health & Social Care Partnership’s Fostering Service today (Wednesday 13 May) hosted a celebration event, recognising local foster carers for their compassion, resilience and long service, and honouring the lasting impact they have had on the lives of children and families across Moray.
A special moment of appreciation was dedicated to Linda Wakeley, who has fostered for 30 years alongside her husband Dave, who sadly died in March.
Linda and Dave began fostering in 1996 from their home in Carron, Speyside. For over three decades, they cared for more than 150 children and young people, providing long‑term, interim, short break and emergency foster care.
Their citation recognised that their years of long service reflected lives changed, opportunities created, and countless acts of kindness and understanding that will continue to be felt long after children have grown and moved on. Although Dave is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through every child he helped to feel valued, believed in and hopeful about their future.
Before his death, Dave made it clear that he hoped Linda would continue fostering, and she has honoured that wish by continuing to provide short break care for children and young people.
Jim Lyon, Chief Social Work Officer and Head of Service, presented Linda with a Long Service Award, recognising both her own remarkable dedication and the incredible contribution she and Dave made together.
The event also celebrated other foster carers for their long service and dedication:
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- 10 years’ service: Elaine and Jimmy Gallacher (Elgin); Angie Wilkinson (Portknockie)
- 15 years’ service: Fee and Shug Main (Elgin); Mark and Brenda Deacon (Elgin); Steph Rogers and Sean Atkin (Drybridge); Mark Waddington and Robert Kennedy (Cullen); and Clare Waddington (Mundole), who has also supported young people as a supported lodgings host for five years
Dennis Robertson, Chair of Moray Integration Joint Board which governs the work of Moray Health & Social Care Partnership, said: “Foster Care Fortnight gives us an important opportunity to recognise the immense difference foster carers make to the lives of children, young people and families across Moray. ‘This is Fostering’ shines a light on the compassion, resilience and dedication our carers show every single day.
“Foster carers don’t just provide a place to live – they provide stability, belonging and hope. We are incredibly proud to stand alongside our foster carers as part of Moray’s fostering family and thank them for the lives they continue to change.”
The partnership is encouraging anyone who has ever considered fostering to find out more. Despite a strong and committed fostering community, there remains a shortage of foster carers locally, meaning some children have to move away from their schools, friends and familiar surroundings.
Mr Lyon said: “Foster carers like the ones we are honouring today are the quiet heroes of our communities. Their patience, warmth and dedication help children thrive and prepare for life ahead.
“While we are hugely grateful for our foster carers, we urgently need more people to step forward. Having foster carers locally means children can stay connected to the people and places that matter most to them during incredibly difficult periods in their lives.
“If you’ve ever thought about fostering, we would really encourage you to talk with our team about how it could fit into your life.”
With full training, ongoing support, a peer network, dedicated supervising social worker plus a competitive remuneration package, there’s lots of reasons to foster with Moray Fostering Service.
Chat to us about fostering by calling 01343 563568 or email fostering&adoption@moray.gov.uk and we can send you more information.
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Health & Social Care Moray Communications
