YEP says: MBE for Tingley foster carer Lorraine Long is so well deserved

FAITH in humanity is reinvigorated by the national recognition which has been given to the remarkable Lorraine Long who has been awarded a MBE for her work as a foster carer.
Lorraine and Philip LongLorraine and Philip Long
Lorraine and Philip Long

Few such awards have been more deserving and the warm-hearted 59-year-old is precisely the type of unsung her who should be celebrated for their personal contribution to society.

Even though she endured a traumatic childhood that left her homeless at one point, she started fostering at the age of 21 and has – in subsequent years – now cared for up to 600 young people who needed shelter, and a loving hand to hold, because of their own challenging circumstances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To quote university graduate Sean Dirrane who runs his own company after having his life transformed by this extraordinary foster carer: “Lorraine showed love where I had lost hope.”

He said: “She was consistent when I had always experienced inconsistency, she was warm and approachable when I had always been fearful of adults.”

They are truly heartwarming words that also put the work of all such carers into context.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fostering certainly needs more people like Lorraine - and our honours system does too.

Congratulations to her and thank you for being there for those that needed you.