Foster carer touched by personal tragedy wins national prize

Joyce Sheriff, from Long-niddry, scooped the title having won the Scottish competition a couple of months before.

She was acknowledged by the judges for the commitment she gives to her three foster children and grandson, who she looks after four days a week.

But her achievements are linked to a family tragedy.

The 54-year-old fsaid: "Eleven years ago my son Peter died at the age of 15. He'd had a brain tumour since he was a baby, but it taught me so much about unconditional love."

Two years after he died she decided to become involved in fostering, and in that time has helped 33 youngsters.

She currently has three, whose names cannot be revealed, but they are aged between eight months and two.

In addition, she takes care of her two-year-old grandson - also called Peter - four days a week.

She said: "It was the mother and toddler group in Longniddry who nominated me for it, but I didn't think it would get anywhere.

"They said in the nomination that they couldn't tell the children weren't related to me, that I treated them the same. It's such a lovely competition; I'm really proud to have won."

While she was delighted to be rewarded with a night in a hotel, dinner and a concert for winning the Scotland-wide gong in October, it gets even better for the national.

A personal shopper will be flown up by sponsors Tesco to take Joyce around town for a lavish new outfit. Then, she will be flown down to London for a night in the Waldorf Hotel. It is understood she will also win a holiday.

"It's nice to be recognised, but of course you don't do fostering for things like this," she said. "I've had more from it than I have ever put in."

She specialises in taking on babies and toddlers in what is described as "open-ended" foster care, meaning they could go back to their biological family or an adoptive home at any time. Joyce can look after them for anything up to two years.

"It's very difficult when you get to the stage when they have to leave," she added. "It's heartbreaking, and the only way you can get through it is think if they didn't move on, you wouldn't be able to take another one in."

Edinburgh's children and families leader, Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, said: "Joyce is a fantastic woman who has made a difference to so many young lives and I hope this award helps to express some of the gratitude that all of society has for her and for people like her.

"Foster carers have a vital role and we rely on their dedication as they support children who are often vulnerable and need very special care."