Children in Care celebrated at Awards ceremony
Hundreds of children and young people in care across Kirklees have been celebrated at this year’s Shining Stars and Recognition Awards, events to celebrate their achievements and the unique qualities that make each of them shine.
The annual awards brought together children and young people, foster carers, council staff and partners to mark the accomplishments of more than 350 children and young people aged five to 16.
A child in care is a child or young person who cannot live with their birth family, often because it is not safe or in their best interests. When this happens, the council becomes their corporate parent, taking on the responsibility of providing the love, care, stability and opportunities that any good parent would want for their own child.
Being a corporate parent means much more than meeting legal duties. It means listening to children, celebrating their successes, supporting them through challenges and creating opportunities for them to thrive.
The Shining Stars and Recognition Awards are just one of many ways we help children in our care feel valued, appreciated and, most importantly, loved throughout the year.
Many children and young people in care have overcome significant challenges, making their achievements all the more remarkable. The awards recognise success in categories including Personal Achievement, Always Growing and Learning, alongside recognising progress in education, creativity, sporting achievement, kindness and determination.
Councillor Gill Floyd, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services (Statutory responsibility for Children), said:
“Every child deserves to grow up knowing they are loved, celebrated and believed in. As a council, we are incredibly proud to be the corporate parent to our children in care, and that means doing everything we can to help them succeed and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
“These awards are about much more than certificates, they’re about recognising every child’s journey, celebrating who they are and reminding them that they have a whole community cheering them on.”
The Shining Stars and Recognition Awards reflect our ongoing commitment to ensuring every child in our care has the encouragement, opportunities and support they need to build a bright future.