The award ceremony is held annually to recognise the work of foster carers and kinship carers, and last year inspirational couple Margaret and Jackie McCarragher were presented with their foster carer of the year award by Michelle McIlveen MLA, who hosted the event in the Great Hall in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Margaret and Jackie, who have fostered more than 50 children over the last 25 years, were nominated by their daughter Nichola, who is also a foster carer.

Margaret said of her award: "Looking after and getting to know the children who have come in and out of our lives over the years has been a pleasure. We feel privileged to be able to make a difference, no matter how small, in their lives. Our reward is seeing them go out into the world as confident happy young people.

“We feel very honoured to foster and would encourage anyone with the time and space in their home and their life to consider taking on this most rewarding role.”

The Kinship Foster Carer Special Recognition Award 2014 was awarded to Betty McGill who has been caring for her 11-year-old niece for the last five years. 

You can contact events@fostering.net to get an application form and nominate people for this year’s Foster Carer of the Year award and Kinship Foster Carer Recognition award. Closing date for completed nomination forms is Friday 6 March.