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Dedicated child carers in Guernsey are in with a chance of winning £500 for themselves and £500 for a charity of their choice as Lloyds Bank searches for the island’s Child Carer of the Year.
Dedicated child carers in Guernsey are in with a chance of winning £500 for themselves and £500 for a charity of their choice as Lloyds Bank searches for the island’s Child Carer of the Year.
Nominations for the award, which is now in its fourth year, are now open and Lloyds Bank is encouraging people to nominate carers who are worthy of the recognition.
‘There are some amazingly dedicated child carers in Guernsey who are entirely committed to the children they look after. It’s always an extremely difficult decision as so many of the nominees have gone beyond the call of duty,’ said Craig Duquemin, Lloyds Bank’s business development manager.
The award is run in conjunction with Guernsey Mums. A representative from the group, along with Yvonne Blundell from the Guernsey Press will join Mr Duquemin on the judging panel.
Last year’s winner, Carolyn Ferbrache, has spent two decades working with children, while bringing up her own three and fostering others, including her foster daughter who has lived with the family for 11 years. Mrs Ferbrache chose to donate £500 of her prize money to the Sunflower Trust, which supports children and young people dealing with the death or illness of a loved one.
‘I was so thrilled to be named Child Carer of the Year last year, it was such a huge surprise, I couldn’t believe it. I’m not one who likes to have lots of attention but I was very honoured to be chosen,’ she said.
‘I wanted the money to go to a child-orientated charity and the Sunflower Trust seemed like a good choice. I hadn’t realised that there were different stages of bereavement and wanted to do something to help children better understand it.’
The donation allowed the trust to replenish its resources at Guille-Alles Library and also went towards the cost of providing home visits, one-to-one therapeutic work, telephone support and educational support in schools.
Mrs Ferbarche, a country music fan, spent her part of the prize on a weekend in London with her husband. They went to the O2 to see American country music star Carrie Underwood, who rose to fame after winning the fourth season of American Idol.
‘We had a really lovely weekend away, I am very grateful to the judges and to our friend Richard Roberts, who nominated me,’ said Mrs Ferbrache.
Nomination forms, which are available from branches of Lloyds Bank in Smith Street, St Martin’s and on The Bridge, as well as from Sarnia House in Le Truchot, must be returned by 4th November 2013 and judging will take place a week later.
