A caring couple who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others following a personal tragedy are in line for a prestigious award.

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

The couple made the move to Undy, in Monmouthshire,  for a quieter life from Cardiff following a personal tragedy which saw Melanie’s nephew killed in a single punch attack.

Melanie, 58, and Daren,  59, who have a deep love for caring for others, have two sons and the couple 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.

Their care and devotion has led to them being shortlisted for one of this year’s Wales Care Awards, organised by Care Forum Wales to pay tribute to the frontline heroes of social care.

The presentation ceremony, sponsored by Meddyg Care, is being held at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel on Friday, October 17.

The couple have been shortlisted in The Peter Clarke Award for Promoting Excellence in Services for Children and Young People category, which is sponsored by Morgan LaRoche Solicitors.

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. Melanie and Daren grew incredibly attached to the brothers and were deeply concerned about their lack of a stable, loving home.

Compelled by their affection and concern, they reached out to social services, expressing their desire to provide a long-term home for the boys.

Since then, Melanie and Daren have worked tirelessly to enable the brothers’ integration into their family, recognising the importance of creating a cohesive and supportive environment.

Melanie is also involved in running a support group for parents and children with ASD need while Daren has become the mental health first aider at the company where he works.

Shared Lives Worker Ruth Rees, who nominated the couple for the award, said: “Daren and Mel have demonstrated exceptional growth and development throughout their care journey.

“They have shown remarkable resilience in this regard, continuously seeking out ways to improve their care and support. Whether it’s through attending training sessions, collaborating with professionals, or simply being present and attentive, they ensure that the individuals in their care receive the best possible support.

“It is these every-day moments—the small acts of kindness, the consistent routines, and the unwavering support—that make the most significant impact on the lives of the individuals supported. Melanie and Daren’s dedication to these daily aspects of care highlights their exceptional commitment and the profound difference they make in the lives of those they support.

“Their dedication to maintaining family connections and promoting independence has been recognised and appreciated by all those who work with them. Their ability to build strong, trusting relationships and their commitment to best practices have made a significant positive impact on the lives of those they care for.”

Speaking about the award nomination, Melanie said the couple were thrilled and looking forward to attending the event.

She added: “I get pleasure from helping others and I have never sought recognition and praise, I just love what I do. But it is a real honour.

“I am so proud of the family I have built, it was meant to be. And there is nothing nicer than seeing the whole family around the table at Christmas. That’s what I love most.”

As a family they love holidays, most recently enjoying a break in Lanzarote.

Melanie added: “We have travelled all over the world and the most beautiful place we have visited was Isreal. One place I have never been to but it is my dream is the Bahamas. It’s Daren’s 60th year so you never know, we might just take the trip of a lifetime to celebrate.”

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “Care Forum Wales has been working tirelessly for more than 30 years to promote the social care sector.

“We established the Wales Care Awards to show our appreciation to the workforce and the wider sector for the remarkable and vitally important contribution everybody makes, day in day out.

“The event  underlines the importance of the social care sector. It is the glue that binds our communities together, both socially and economically.

“Our mission is to be the voice of social care in Wales to advocate on the sector’s behalf, holding truth to power in order to secure a fair deal to recognise the dedication of our front line heroes and heroines across our nation.

“If you don’t value the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.

“Every single one of our finalists is a winner and will be presented with a gold, silver or bronze award.”