Lambeth foster carer awarded MBE for an ‘exceptional’ carer

BY KATE DENNETT
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

A foster carer has been honoured for dedicating more than two decades of her life to helping vulnerable children.

Lambeth foster carer Joan Wilson has been awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace for her ‘outstanding achievement or service to the community’ which ‘will have had a long-term, significant impact and stand out as an example to others’.

Joan and her husband Leroy have opened their home to more than 50 foster children to date.

Joan attended Buckingham Palace with her proud husband and three children to collect her MBE.

Joan said: “The night before I was very nervous. But the day of collecting my MBE was beautiful, I was smiling so much. The moment my guests had to go through a separate entrance and I was taken off and taught how to bow and curtsy I began to feel excited.

“Prince William presented me with my MBE and we had a long conversation.

He was very nice and I think I gave him a good laugh. After singing the national anthem he gave me a wink on the way out – everyone was very interested to know what we’d been talking about.

“Afterwards I was met by my social worker and my IRO (Independent Reviewing Officer). I cried tears of joy as we talked about my experience. I felt really honoured.”

Joan attends the Foster Carers Support Group where she gets support and suggests service improvements to make children’s fostering experiences easier.

Joan said: “I feel blessed and special to have been in a position to give these children warmth, love and care.

Allowing them to have a voice so they can pass this onto their own children and grandchildren brings me so much joy.

“I like knowing I can help children, especially the ones who really need it. It’s not just giving them a bed to sleep in. It goes deeper.

I want to see them go to university and be the best person in life that they want to be – and to do this they need a caring family and a loving home. It’s all about being that someone who can motivate them.”

Joan’s MBE will be given a place of pride in her living room for her and her family to enjoy.

Annie Hudson, strategic director of children’s services, said: “Joan has had a huge impact on the lives of very many children and young people during her 23 years of service in Lambeth.

“Her positive approach and enthusiasm for continuously developing her skills have made her an exceptional carer. Most important, however, has been her unerring focus on keeping children’s needs at the heart of everything she does.

This award not only celebrates Joan’s great contribution but it also highlights how all foster carers go above and beyond the call of duty to support our looked after children.”

In Lambeth there are currently around 400 children in care, with many of them needing a stable home after going through a traumatic period.

Joan attends the Foster Carers Support Group where she gets support from other carers and is able to suggest service improvements to make children’s fostering experiences easier.

She has recently been providing care for young offenders, which is an area she feels very passionate about.

Cllr Jennifer Brathwaite, deputy leader of the council (children and young people), said: “We’re immensely proud of Joan who of course very much deserves to receive this honour.

She’s a huge asset to the children and the entire Lambeth community – we’re so pleased that her contribution has been recognised.”