Foster carers who help some of Manchester's most vulnerable children and young people to thrive have been recognised in the city's annual Foster Carer Awards.
The awards included recognition for some of the city's longest-serving foster carers, along with special awards made to individual foster carers for their fostering achievements.
Over 30 foster carers were recognised at the awards for having recently reached significant milestones in terms of the number of years they have been fostering for - with awards going to all those who had reached five years, ten, fifteen, and twenty years' service.
A further two foster carers, Elaine Doyle and Tracey Thompson, were each recognised for having been foster carers now for an amazing 25 years, whilst foster carer couple Jayne and Graham McKie received an award for having been foster carers for an astonishing 30 years.
During their 30 years of fostering, as well as providing long-term stable care for the children and young people they welcomed into their home as foster carers, Jayne and Graeme have also gone on to adopt children they have previously cared for, and are described as 'one-in-a-million' foster carers full of warmth and compassion.
In addition to these awards, a number of special individual awards were also made on the night, recognising different aspects of fostering.
Nine such awards were made in total including a 'Foster Carers Choice' award decided by foster carers themselves, which went to fostering couple Tracie and Mark Garrett, who were nominated for the award by their adult daughter, Lauren.
She said: "My mum and dad have been fostering for nearly 15 years and for every child they have gone above and beyond each and every time. They have inspired me to become a foster carer and offer me and others support. They deserve some recognition for what they do and will no doubt continue to do in the future."
Foster carer Pauline Conville was the recipient of the Children's Champion Award - an extra special award as nominations for the award are made either by the child or children they care for, or by a professional on behalf of the child.
Awards also included a special Going The Distance Award, recognising carers who have demonstrated resilience and have not given up on the children they look after, no matter what, and which this year went to foster carer Carol Bailey.
Other special awards made included Rising Star, Rising to the Challenge, Road to Success, Short Break Carer of the Year, Unsung Hero, and Lifetime Achievement.
List of winners:
25 Years - Elaine Doyle
25 Years - Tracey Thompson
30 Years - Jayne McKie and Graham McKie
Children's Choice - Pauline Conville
Foster Carer's Choice - Tracie Garrett and Mark Garrett
Going the Distance - Carol Bailey
Rising Star - Colin Daly and Suzanne Thompson
Rising to the Challenge - Kathleen Wharton
Short Break Carer of the Year - Patricia Hoy
Unsung Hero - Angela Wright and Stuart Wright
This year's foster carer awards are made as Manchester continues to work towards being recognised as a Child Friendly City - a place where children's rights are understood, put into practice, and embedded into everyday life in the city, making Manchester the best place possible for a child or young person to grow up in.
Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, Manchester City Council, said: "Our foster carers play a hugely important part in the lives of some of our most vulnerable children and young people. Providing them with the stability, care, support, and guidance they need, at what can be very difficult and sometimes traumatic times in their lives.
"As we journey towards becoming a Child Friendly City, embedding the Rights of the Child into everything we do, the contribution our foster carers make in helping our children feel seen, valued and believed in, has never been more important and deserves to be celebrated."