Linda was one of the selfless foster carers honoured at Oldham Council Fostering Service's celebration evening.
Held at the Oldham Event Centre at Oldham Athletic FC, the annual event brought together around 70 foster carers alongside 30 fostering staff for an evening of recognition and appreciation.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of Long Service Awards. This year, awards were presented to 22 foster families who have collectively provided 250 years of fostering.
These included Linda, who has fostered for Oldham over 35 years, since May 1991.
Linda, 68, has fostered children and young people of all ages for different lengths of time, and both of her twin daughters Christine and Catherine have followed in her footsteps to become foster carers, Christine since 2008 and Catherine since 2020.
She has provided long-term, short-term and respite placements and went on to adopt one of the children in her care. Currently she is caring for a seven-month-old baby.
She told us: "I have looked after children from just 30 hours old to teenagers. The most rewarding thing about being a foster carer is knowing that you have made a difference and seeing someone who has arrived withdrawn leave you with good memories."
Linda became a foster carer at the age of 34 and hasn't looked back after making that initial call after spotting an advert in a newspaper.
"I was always minding friends' kids and thought 'there are children that need more than looking after," she said.
"I realised I could make a real difference. After 200 children I stopped counting."
All long service winners received flowers, a certificate and a gift voucher in recognition of their ongoing commitment and support, presented by the Mayor of Oldham Cllr Pam Byrne.
In addition to the long service awards, five special awards were presented at the celebration evening - the Special Recognition Award 2026, the New Foster Carer Award 2026, Kinship Carer Award 2026, the Outstanding Contribution to Foster Children with Complex Needs Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Fostering Award 2026.
Now in its fourteenth year, the annual celebration is one of the most important events in the fostering calendar, providing an opportunity to thank foster carers for the vital role they play in the lives of Oldham’s children and young people.
The evening is also a chance for foster carers to share their achievements and celebrate the positive impact they make every day, and Oldham Council Chief Executive Shelley Kipling gave a speech thanking them for all their hard work.
Nick Whitbread, Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting for Oldham Council, and Lisa Oates, Head of Service for Adoption and Fostering, co-ordinated the awards.
Nick said: "Our foster carers provide stability, care and encouragement to some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
"This celebration evening is a chance to recognise their dedication and thank them for the enormous difference they make to families across Oldham. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment and proud to celebrate their achievements."
Lisa said: "Foster carers are at the heart of everything we do. This event is about recognising their hard work, celebrating their successes and showing our appreciation for the care, compassion and support they provide throughout the year."
Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer can visit www.oldham.gov.uk/fostering or call 0300 303 0321 for more information.
