Big thank-you to foster couple

MORAY Council has shown its gratitude to extraordinary couple Joyce and Ronnie Loveland – who have been fostering for 40 years.

Moray Placement Services timed its Long Service Awards to coincide with Foster Care Fortnight – The Fostering Network's annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering and to show how foster care can transform lives.

The service is responsible for the assessment and support of foster carers, adopters, kinship carers and supported lodgings providers. It also has responsibility for young people in Through Care, After Care as well as young people in Continuing Care.

At present, Moray Placement Services has 49 foster carer families, 69 kinship and residence placements, eight supported lodgings providers and young people who regularly contact the department. These are usually young people aged 16-25 who are or have been in care.

Over the years Joyce and Ronnie have looked after babies and children, as well as establishing positive and supportive relationships with their families.

A spokeswoman for the service said: "The couple are held in high regard by other professionals, who recognise the skills and experience they have. All of this is done with humility, a genuine warmth and sense of humour, and an obvious love of what they continue to do."

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