Middlesbrough foster carer Cindy Flynn’s years of dedication have been recognised with a Queen’s Garden Party invitation to Buckingham Palace.
Cindy and late husband David were approved as foster carers for Middlesbrough Council in 1991 and have cared for 63 different children over the last 25 years.
Following David’s death in 2013 Cindy was reassessed as a single carer and remains an enthusiastic compassionate carer for babies aged up to two years.
Cindy, of Acklam, received her royal garden party invitation in recognition of her dedicated service to the public as a foster carer for Middlesbrough Council, and attended with her daughter.
She said: “David and I came into fostering to help any child who needed us, as we firmly believe that everyone deserves to be happy.
“Our approach and philosophy was to immerse ourselves fully, and over the years we’ve look after single children and sibling groups from infancy to 16 years of age.
“Fostering is its own reward and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, but the invitation to Buckingham Palace was really special, and not something I’d ever have expected.
“It was magnificent and a day we will never forget.
“I was close enough that I could have reached out and touched the Queen!”
Cindy and David have three adult children and six grandchildren who have all grown up with and participated in the wider family’s fostering.
- For more information on fostering in Middlesbrough visit http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/fostering
