Arlene and Phil Lambourne – Carer of the Year nomination
Arlene and Phil Lambourne – Carer of the Year nomination
When Arlene and Phil Lambourne took in a nine-year-old girl for a few days they had no idea she would still be living with them five years later and that they would have trained to become foster carers.
Arlene, 63, has even given up her job as a nurse to help meet the needs of their foster daughter, who is now aged 15.
The Stoke-on-Trent couple were classed as kinship foster carers, because they were known to the girl’s previous carer. This meant they were able to provide her a home at the same time as completing the lengthy process to become official foster carers.
Arlene is now also a buddy, supporting other people who are in the process of becoming foster carers through Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Arlene and Phil, aged 55, have been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards by Marie Plant, Fostering Recruitment and Engagement Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
She said: “Arlene and Philip have built a strong and trusting relationship with the child in their care. They have helped her to feel valued, understood and genuinely believed in. Their unwavering confidence in her abilities and potential has empowered her to believe in herself and begin to hold ambitious hopes and aspirations for her future.
“They have advocated for her needs and offered new and meaningful opportunities. Arlene and Phil have supported her to feel fully included and part of the family, fostering a true sense of belonging, safety and emotional security.
“Alongside this, Arlene has offered support to other carers, both those at the beginning of the fostering journey and those facing challenges. Her willingness to share her experiences and offer encouragement and understanding has been invaluable to others.”
Arlene said: “It was the child who asked if she could come and live with us. Her placement was breaking down and we were part of her former foster carer’s support team. She came to us for a few days and it became apparent that her old foster carer wasn’t able to continue in that role.
“She was with us for two days then asked if she could come to live with us. It didn’t take much for us to agree to that.”
The couple already had their own daughter who is 10 years older than their foster daughter and the two have become as close as sisters.
Arlene said: “At times at the beginning it wasn’t easy. It could be challenging on occasions. She’s part of the family now and she’s just lovely.”
She added: “If anyone reading this article is interested in becoming a foster carer my advice is to look into it properly. It’s a difficult process but it’s very worth it.”