Outstanding Islington foster carers awarded MBEs

Islington foster carers Anjana and Krushnah Appiah have been appointed MBEs for their years of care for children and support for other foster carers.

 

MBEs are awarded to people who have provided an outstanding contribution to their community, and the Appiahs were honoured in the New Year Honours list for their services to children in Islington. Their continued care and support has had a major impact on the lives of the local children they have looked after.

 

Mr and Mrs Appiah visited Buckingham Palace on Friday (February 18) to receive their award from Prince Charles and were accompanied by their family and fostering social worker Carmen Graham. 

 

Mrs Appiah said: “When we first heard the news we were shocked, but it was a pleasant surprise. We were not aware these awards were given to foster carers. Being at the palace was amazing and felt surreal but we were very nervous!

 

“The staff at the palace were very warm and friendly which helped put us at ease. We also enjoyed meeting the other recipients.”

 

Mr and Mrs Appiah are dedicated and highly experienced carers who began fostering in 2003 and have cared for 12 children of all backgrounds and religions, and their children and the whole Appiah family have been involved in the fostering process. Over the 13 years they have looked after babies and young local children with disabilities and long-term heath issues.

 

They have also been very supportive of other foster carers, have worked with other families and have mentored new foster carers.

 

Mrs Appiah said: "Watching a friend foster made me want to do it as well. My children had grown up and so I thought I could offer some vulnerable children a home.

 

“For us fostering has been a rewarding experience, watching sick children get better with our care and love and seeing babies grow into toddlers and move on to adoption. We feel that we were able to offer them a good start to their childhood and help build their character.

 

“We would recommend fostering. Watching a child grow and develop is a blessed experience for me.”

 

Cllr Joe Caluori, Islington Council’s executive member for children and young people, said: “Mr and Mrs Appiah have made a huge, positive difference to the lives of many people in Islington, always putting the needs of foster children before their own needs.  

 

“We’re very grateful for their years of service, and they richly deserve these honours. We’d like to hear from other people in Islington who are interested in finding out more about becoming foster carers.”

 

If you are interested in making the difference to a local young life please call Islington Fostering on 0800 073 0428, or send an email to fostering@islington.gov.uk.