MBE recognition for decades of care
Two long-serving foster carers from Kirklees have been appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours after a fostering journey spanning 34 years and supporting more than 100 children and young people.
Pam and Len Pattinson, who fostered with Kirklees Council over several decades, are being recognised for sustained, hands-on care that provided not only safe, stable homes but also long-term family connection for many of the children they supported. Although now retired from fostering, the couple remain in touch with numerous former placements, some of whom continue to view them as family.
‘Shocked but so proud’
The couple learned of the honour by post and initially doubted the news. Pam described the unexpected recognition and reflected on the years they devoted to caring for children across the borough.
“It was completely out of the blue, and we really thought it must be a scam... we were shocked but so proud.”
She added that fostering had been a rewarding experience throughout their lives together. Len, previously a farmer, also worked with the National Children’s Home, which had a farm attached, using practical skills to support young people in a structured, therapeutic setting.
“Len would take six young people at a time to teach them farming.”
Varied placements and lifelong bonds
Over the years, the couple took on a wide range of roles to meet changing needs. They began with long-term placements for teenage girls and later expanded to short-term arrangements, emergency care and mother-and-baby placements. Pam was also asked to be a birthing partner on several occasions during her fostering career, underlining the trust placed in the family at pivotal moments in children’s and parents’ lives.
- Long-term care for teenage girls
- Short-term fostering
- Emergency placements
- Mother-and-baby placements
- Birthing partner support on eight occasions
The breadth of their experience reflects the complex and often urgent nature of children’s social care, where carers are called upon to provide stability at short notice and to support reunification or transitions when circumstances allow.
What their contribution shows about fostering in Kirklees
The Pattinsons’ service illustrates the critical role that foster carers play in local safeguarding and family support. While each placement is different, the consistent thread in their story is the creation of a safe, nurturing environment. The fact that many young people have stayed in contact well beyond placement shows how enduring relationships can be when care is rooted in trust and routine, and when carers are able to offer both everyday normality and steady guidance during difficult times.
Len’s background in farming provided hands-on learning opportunities and purposeful activity, demonstrating how practical skills can complement social care by giving young people structure and confidence. The inclusion of mother-and-baby placements points to a wider spectrum of support in Kirklees, where foster families can help parents develop caregiving skills alongside safeguarding infants.
At a glance: the Pattinsons’ fostering journey
| Years fostering | Children and young people supported | Notable roles |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 100+ | Long-term, short-term, emergency, mother-and-baby; Pam as birthing partner for 8 babies |
The honour acknowledges both the immediate impact of giving a child security and the longer-term influence that stable adult relationships can have. For local authorities and partners, it also underscores the importance of retaining experienced carers who can flex between different types of placements as needs change.
Local significance
For Kirklees residents, the recognition serves as a reminder of the collective effort behind children’s social care: families who step forward, professionals who assess and support, and wider networks that help young people move into adulthood. While the couple have now stepped back from active fostering, their ongoing relationships with former placements show how support can extend beyond formal care, providing continuity that many young people in care rarely experience.
Fostering relies on people with patience, stability and resilience. This honour shines a light on that commitment within our borough and the difference it can make—quietly, persistently and over a lifetime.
