Derbyshire foster carers honoured with British Citizen Award

Chris and Denise Mitchell are pictured receiving their British Citizen Award from Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers and BCA Patron, together with TV and radio presenter Konnie Huq who hosted the awards

A Derbyshire couple who have dedicated their lives to caring for some of the county’s most vulnerable children have been honoured with a national award.

Retired foster carers Christopher and Denise Mitchell, who live in the Derbyshire Dales, were among 26 people to be presented with a British Citizen Award at the Palace of Westminster.

They received the coveted Medal of Honour for Services to Community after being nominated for their years of outstanding service to supporting children across Derbyshire.

Over 40 years ago, the couple welcomed the first of their three adopted children, who all have Down’s syndrome, into their family with their two young sons.

Three years later, they adopted their second daughter aged nine months old and 24 years ago their family was completed with the adoption of their third son, aged two.

Then the couple, who are both now 70, decided that fostering for Derbyshire County Council would be a perfect way to continue supporting more children into new families.

Over the next 14 years, they provided a nurturing and safe home for 12 vulnerable newborn babies, many who went to live with them straight from hospital.

Many had complex medical needs requiring specialist care during the most fragile weeks and months of their lives.

Denise and Chris, who retired as foster carers in 2021, said: “It has just been the most rewarding experience. All the children gave us so much more than we gave them.”

The couple have stayed in touch with all of the children they cared for and supported to find loving homes.

“It’s like having loads of grandchildren,” said Denise, adding: “It has been so lovely to watch them grow up, thrive with their families and be happy.”

The couple were nominated for the award by their supervising social worker and said the ‘amazing’ support they received from her throughout their 14 years was essential to be able to carry out their fostering role, and while the modest couple say they are slightly embarrassed by all the attention, they also want to share their story to encourage others to come forward to provide a loving home for children when they need it most.

Chris, a retired social worker, said: “We know how hard it is to recruit foster carers and there are so many children needing a loving family. Our main aim is to encourage other people to consider fostering.”

Councillor Sam Redfern, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “I’d like to congratulate Chris and Denise on their well-deserved award – they really are an inspiration to us all!

“For many years they have dedicated their lives to supporting babies and children with disabilities, both as part of their family and as foster carers, and I’m delighted that this commitment has been recognized in this way.

“I’d like to thank them for their selfless dedication to helping all children, regardless of their abilities, to thrive and would encourage others to think about following in their footsteps to provide loving, caring homes for Derbyshire children when they need it most.”

For more information about becoming a foster carer please click on this link.

The British Citizen Award, now in its 11th year, celebrates individuals who make positive impacts on their communities across the UK.

The Peoples Honours are presented bi-annually and recipients are treated to an open top bus tour of Central London after the ceremony.