Charlotte Loftus
A 45-year-old auntie from North Staffordshire has been nominated as Carer of the Year in the Your Heroes Awards in recognition of “the remarkable care that she has offered and continues to offer to her nephew”.
Charlotte Loftus is a kinship foster carer through Stoke-on-Trent City Council and has cared for her nephew for almost a decade.
He came into Charlotte’s care when he was just two years old. Over the past 10 years Charlotte has completely reshaped her life to provide the secure, nurturing and therapeutic care that he needs.
He has significant additional needs and had a challenging life as a baby and toddler, which means Charlotte has had to learn methods to provide him with the very best care. Charlotte has had to not only show extraordinary patience and love but to hugely adapt her life to ensure he feels loved, understood, supported and valued.
This has included having to give up work when he came to her, and in her new role she has to adapt her hours and workload to fit around him. It’s this selfless and loving approach that has been key to helping him thrive.
Through her selflessness, determination and patience Charlotte has transformed his life and given him opportunities to flourish that may otherwise never have been possible. She believes in his potential and works every day to help him grow, achieve and most importantly to be happy.
As the nominator said: “Above all else, Charlotte prioritises her nephew’s wellbeing. Her commitment goes far beyond day-to day-care. Charlotte is a tireless advocate for her nephew, challenging professionals and services when necessary to ensure his best interests are at the centre of all decisions made.
“Charlotte has given him more than a home, she has given him love, stability and opportunities. She embodies the essence of fostering – love, resilience, advocacy and commitment.”
Charlotte said: “It’s been hugely challenging, but I have seen a huge development and progression in my nephew, which has been wonderful. I always wanted him to stay within the family and so the last decade has been difficult at times but so rewarding.”
“He’s an amazing kid who loves going to the seaside and gaming. I am going to look into the world of respite care, which could be a real possibility for me in the future.”
Sue Knipe
The first ever member of staff at a North Staffordshire nursing home is now in her 39th year of offering care and support to residents and fellow staff.
Sue Knipe has worked at Bradwell Hall Nursing Home since the doors first opened – indeed she was the very first member of staff through those doors when it opened with just one resident and has been ever-present for decades!
Living just down the road from the nursing home, Sue started her career as a care assistant and has held a number of positions before her role as a trainer.
Now aged 73, Sue has helped hundreds of residents as well as training many carers. She has been instrumental in shaping the quality of care delivered to some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Sue has been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Her nominator said: “Sue is a true diamond who is loved by all and who is caring, honest, reliable and a friend to everyone she meets. Sue has left made a lasting impression on so many people that have come into contact with her at the nursing home.”
Sue said: “I absolutely love my job and although I now only do one day per week, I love that day. I have four children and when I left my previous job, I was looking for a new challenge, one where I could keep putting others first.
“I train our staff in areas such as moving and handling techniques and safeguarding, which helps to ensure that they are fully equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to our residents.
“The role has always been a labour of love and gives me huge satisfaction as it has a real sense of purpose and impact. I love building up friendships with so many people.
“There is great satisfaction in seeing staff grow in confidence, knowing that this directly improves residents’ wellbeing and lives. It really has been a hugely rewarding and fulfilling part of my life.”
Glynn and Ann O’Donnell
Glynn and Ann O’Donnell have battled ill health to provide a loving home to 37 youngsters over the past quarter of a century.
The Biddulph couple, aged 74 and 66, also have three of their own children.
Ann said: “Over those 25 years we’ve never had a day when we haven’t been fostering. We have never seen this as a job, it’s a calling. It’s so rewarding, because every child deserves a loving home to grow up in, and we give them just that.”
They often receive visits from people they have fostered over the years, including some who return with their own children.
Glynn and Ann have been nominated as Carers of the Year in the Your Heroes Awards by Marie Plant, Fostering Recruitment Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
She said: “I am nominating them for their compassion and empathy for the children that they care for and for their tenacity in ensuring that the appropriate long-term care is provided for each child.”
The couple have fostered youngsters from newborn to 18 years old, offering an environment filled with love, support and guidance.
Both have battled cancer, but that didn’t stop them in their desire to continue to provide a nurturing and positive environment for young people within their home.
The couple are child-focused and work hard to ensure the children in their care achieve their full potential.
Ann added: “I lost my mum when she was 49 and from that moment I always wanted to ensure that children had somewhere safe and supportive. That’s the least that they deserve.
“When they come back to us and bring their own children, that is just amazing. As long as we are fit and healthy, I see no reason why me and Glynn will ever stop providing a home for children that really need one.”
Paul and Sam Joynson
Foster carers Paul and Sam Joynson are so dedicated to the children and young people they support that they have moved house and Paul has given up his day job.
The Sandford Hill couple began their fostering journey in December 2023 alongside raising three youngsters of their own.
Sam’s parents were foster carers for a number of years and Paul had experience of the care system while he was growing up. For the couple, both in their early thirties, fostering is a calling.
Marie Plant, Fostering Recruitment Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “They are so dedicated and passionate about fostering. They are just so proud to be foster carers.
“The couple have cared for a baby since birth who has come on amazing since being in their care, they are also caring for a sibling group. The couple are passionate about keeping brothers and sisters together.”
Paul said: “We are hugely upbeat people and try to take the positive from any negative situation. We believe that everyone has the right to a loving childhood and a good start in life.
“We get so much satisfaction from what we are doing. Our belief is that everyone should try to spread kindness whenever they can. It’s a harsh world that we live in, but we are fiercely determined to do what we can to make it better. That means we will be helping as many kids as we can.
“We want every child in our care to feel valued and loved.”
Paul and Sam Joynson have been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Marie Plant
With more than a dozen years of going above and beyond for foster parents, children, families and extended families in Stoke-on-Trent, Marie Plant has been described as ‘phenomenal’ and ‘an inspiration to us all’.
Marie has been Fostering Recruitment Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council for five years and has worked within her team of 33 since 2012. Her passion and dedication have help transform the lives of countless children and carers.
With a background in health and social care, Marie is not just the first point of contact for prospective foster carers, she provides “a broad after-care service for everyone who I come into contact with in fostering that needs support, guidance and help.”
Based at the Civic Centre in Stoke, Marie can also be found at numerous events doing outreach work at weekends and out-of-hours. She is renowned for her caring and empathetic understanding of children and carers and their motivations, challenges and concerns, offering professional and enthusiastic support.
Marie said: “It’s an amazing job. I am hugely passionate about helping others and helping to find solutions whenever and wherever I can. My role is all-encompassing and ranges from initial visits to social media, and from attending functions to producing a monthly newsletter.
“This role has totally changed my outlook on life and I get so much job satisfaction from it. It’s great to work passionately for children in care, families, extended families and everyone else I come into contact with.
“We have around 370 carers in the city, but over 1,100 children that require our support. So we are always on the lookout for new carers. However, we are making real progress, and fostering within the city is in a far better place now.
“My hopes for the future are to get more and more foster carers in, retain all the brilliant ones we already have and to keep progressing as a team.”
Marie has been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Denise Owen-Simpson and Paul Simpson
A sign on the back of a North Staffordshire bus was the inspiration for a married couple to start a long foster caring journey themselves.
Denise Owen-Simpson and Paul Simpson, from Newchapel, already had one grown-up child of their own and were contemplating fostering youngsters when they spotted an advertisement on a bus which gave them the gentle push they needed to take the plunge.
Seventeen years later the couple, now aged 67 and 68, have cared for around 30 youngsters including babies and say that it’s the best decision that they’ve ever made.
Denise and Paul love and support every child they have taken care of and whilst it can be emotionally hard to move a child on to adoption or back to their birth family they always remain professional but show care and love with each transition.
They have been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards by Marie Plant, the Fostering Recruitment Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Marie said: “Their dedication and commitment to foster cannot be understated. It’s hard to put into words what an absolute amazing foster carers they truly are. This is why they truly deserve a nomination. They show empathy in their role each and every day.”
Denise and Paul throw themselves headlong into providing a loving, nurturing environment. Paul is Vice Chair of the Foster Carers Association while Denise is also a member and heavily involved. The couple attend any fostering social events, helping to prepare, serve the buffet, clean up – whatever needs to be done.
Paul works in hospitality on a self-employed basis and tailors his workload and schedule based on the needs of children in their care.
Denise said: “We looked after our parents during ill health and have always looked to put others first. Our daughter has exactly the same outlook on life as us.
“We think sharing our lives and the love we have with children who need a caring environment is a blessing and we absolutely love it. Of course it can have its challenging moments, but we wouldn’t change it for the world and would strongly advise others thinking of fostering to do it.”
Jock and Sue Irving
Jock and Sue Irving have fostered 39 babies and young children during their 19 years as foster parents – and adopted two of the babies when new families couldn’t be found for them.
The couple, both aged 57 and from Newstead, already had two teenage children of their own when they decided to become foster carers with Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2006.
Now the first baby they fostered, then went on to adopt, has just celebrated his 18th birthday.
Jock said: “He was the first baby we fostered and he had complex needs which meant an adopter couldn’t be found for him. We have supported him as best we can.
“As he started to grow he didn’t like older foster children coming into our home. He didn’t handle it well. As a family we decided to stick with fostering younger children.
“A few years after that we did it again when a little boy came to us and a family couldn’t be found for him. We adopted him too.”
Jock and Sue have been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards by Marie Plant, the Fostering Recruitment Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Marie said: “Their commitment to fostering has never wavered. They have raised children of their own but have committed their life to looking after the most vulnerable children in Stoke-on-Trent. Their commitment, love, dedication and stamina shines in everything they do for the babies in their care.
“The couple have moved children on to family members and transitioned little ones to their forever families when they have been adopted. Jock and Sue have always shown professionalism but care and understanding.
“It can be hard to move a child on when they have lived with you from birth until they are turned two years old. Jock and Sue have the mindset that they are here to give the children the best start in life until they are able to live either a family member or adopters for the rest of their lives.
“The couple are also involved with the Foster Carers Association that helps other foster carers to come together with their own children and fostered children at parties and fun days. Both are very supportive of each other and of other foster carers.
“Jock and Sue are an absolute asset to Stoke Fostering. If it wasn’t for people like Jock and Sue we wouldn’t know where we would be. They are just amazing.”
Matt Jones
Matt Jones has been described as “the quiet heartbeat of the wellbeing services team” at the Dougie Mac Hospice.
The 40-year-old, from Meir, has been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards by colleagues at the hospice who said: “He is not only integral to the functioning of our services, he is a source of strength, kindness and quiet leadership. He embodies our values and is a shining example of what it means to care.”
Matt is the Wellbeing Services Administration Coordinator and whilst his role might be behind the scenes his impact is felt across the hospice.
He plays a vital role in empowering people with life-limiting illnesses to live as independently and meaningfully as possible and has an attention to detail that ensures services run smoothly at the hospice.
A passionate advocate for the wellbeing of patients, carers and colleagues, Matt has a reputation for compassionate excellence and his commitment to holistic care goes far beyond administration.
Matt’s work includes coordinating complex schedules, supporting families through difficult transitions and offering a calm, reassuring presence to all he comes into contact with.
This year he has championed a ‘one team’ culture across Dougie Mac’s Wellbeing Services and has been instrumental in the change management of the Wellbeing Services hospice management information system, a complex and vital transformation.
Matt has only been at the hospice for two years but has led the design and implementation of a system that supports a stepped model of care, from the point of referral to end-of-life support. His work ensures the hospice’s services align with Dougie Mac’s CARE values and are delivered with consistency, compassion and clarity.
“Matt has an ability to see the person behind the diagnosis and that truly sets him apart,” said his nominator. “His dedication, professional expertise and unwavering belief in the power of holistic wellbeing make him not only an exceptional colleague, but a true carer in every sense of the word.”
Matt said: “It’s so inspirational working here. Whilst there are obviously moments that are very hard, there is so much positivity from everyone.
“My role is to ensure that everyone gets what they need and require, so I’m in the background making sure that things run as smoothly as possible.”
Lynn Parkin
Healthcare support worker Lynn Parkin has given 38 years of service to the Dougie Mac, making her one of the hospice’s longest serving employees.
The 65-year-old is due to retire in December after working in nearly every department at the hospice.
Lynn began her journey on the inpatient unit, where her unwavering care for patients set the tone for her career. She is known for bringing warmth, professionalism and a deep sense of compassion to every role she has held.
Her transition to the Day Therapy team saw Lynn supporting patients living in the community and helping them maintain independence and dignity. During the COVID-19 pandemic she developed new skills to support patients remotely.
Most recently Lynn has been part of the Specialist Community team, contributing to the care of a caseload of more than 1,000 people.
Lynn Parkin has been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Her nominator said: “Her work has touched countless lives and her legacy is woven into the very fabric of our hospice. Lynn is not just a colleague; she is a symbol of respect for the profession and the people we serve.
“Her name is remembered fondly by many and her impact will be felt long after her retirement. Lynn has been nominated in recognition of a lifetime of service defined by Dougie Mac values and an unwavering commitment to excellence in care.”