A COUPLE from Leigh have been named Foster Carers of the Year at a national awards gathering.

Jane and Dave Gater, who have been fostering youngsters for more than 20 years, were also presented with an outstanding contribution prize at the Children and Young Peoples Awards in Birmingham.

Judges were impressed by their work running a support group for other foster carers for 11 years.

And the Gaters were lauded for, during lockdown, setting up online meetings and WhatsApp conversations for those involved in fostering.

Jane said: “Fostering is very rewarding but it’s also hard work. It isn’t just a job, it’s your whole life.

“Even when you’re not with your foster children you think about them and worry about them as you would with your birth children.

“The group is all about giving local foster carers a chance to get together for a coffee and a chat, do social activities and training courses, and get support from social workers and from other foster carers who are in similar situations to you.”

Modest Dave added: “As a foster carer you get to know lots of other fostering families and I feel like we’re no different to many of the other foster carers I know.

“There are so many people who are doing a fantastic job, often in difficult personal circumstances.

“People often say to me, ‘I couldn’t do what you do’, but I always say that most people could.

“I’m not saying that fostering is easy, it can often be very challenging, but I believe that most people are caring by nature and could do it if they set their mind to it.”

Jane and Dave were nominated for their awards by other local foster carers.

One young adult, fostered by the couple as a child, wrote to judges to praise their achievements.

Foster placements might involved taking in a youngsters for a short period, in an emergency, Jane and Dave have usually supported children on a longer-term basis.

Currently the Gaters are caring for three young people, each of whom has additional needs.

Cllr Jenny Bullen, Wigan Council’s children and families cabinet member, paid tribute to the couple for their “many years of hard work”.