Award for couple who turned their personal tragedy into hope

Melanie and Daren Stirling have devoted their lives and careers to helping others after a devastating death in Melanie's family

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A CARING couple who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others following a personal tragedy have won a top award.

In a ceremony at Cardiff's Holland House Hotel, Melanie and Daren Stirling were handed silver in The Peter Clarke Award for Promoting Excellence in Services for Children and Young People category, sponsored by Morgan LaRoche Solicitors at this year's Wales Care Awards.

Melanie, a former magistrate, and her husband, former HGV driver Daren, from Undy, in Monmouthshire, are foster carers and recently became Shared Lives Carers for the South East Wales Shared Lives Scheme.

The couple made the move to Undy for a quieter life from Cardiff following a personal tragedy when Melanie's nephew was killed in a single punch attack.

Melanie, 58, and Daren, 59, who have a deep love for caring for others, have two sons and have also become foster carers to two boys.

They recently moved into an adult care role under the Shared Lives Scheme to be able to continue caring for their eldest foster child.

Melanie says she is very proud of the family she has built around her and loves nothing more than seeing everyone around the table at Christmas.

The couple's journey into fostering began in 2016 when they met two brothers, aged nine and 10, through a mutual friend.

The boys were in the care of social services and in need of a permanent home.