Foster carers recognised in New Year Honours
Tuesday, 6 January 2026
Two foster carers from Central Bedfordshire have been recognised in the New Year Honours List for their exceptional service to foster care.
Amy Natasha Watson and Ross William Watson, both foster carers for us, have received honours for services to foster care in Bedfordshire. Their recognition reflects years of compassion, resilience and dedication to providing safe, nurturing homes for some of our most vulnerable children.
Ms Watson is recognised for her exemplary commitment to creating a stable and supportive environment where children can feel secure and valued. Known for her empathy and belief in the potential of every young person, she consistently goes beyond day-to-day care, helping children rebuild confidence and thrive despite early adversity. Her work embodies our commitment to placing children at the heart of everything we do.
Mr Watson is recognised for his outstanding contribution as a foster carer and positive male role model. Through patience, consistency, and care, he has helped children and young people develop emotional security and resilience. His work provides not just safety, but guidance and encouragement that enables young people to overcome challenges and move forward with confidence.
Together, their service reflects the strength of Central Bedfordshire’s fostering community and the profound difference foster carers make every day. Foster carers provide stability, kindness and hope at critical moments in young people’s lives — often when it is needed most.
Reflecting on the award, Amy Watson and Ross Watson said:
We are very proud to receive this incredible honour. We have always wanted to dedicate our life to the children that need us most and the medal we have been given is a wonderful bonus. Fostering is hugely rewarding and we are grateful to our older children for coming on this journey with us.
Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:
We are incredibly proud of Amy and Ross and delighted to see their dedication recognised in the New Year Honours. Foster carers play a vital role in our community, providing stability, care and hope to children who need it most. This recognition highlights not only their personal commitment, but the extraordinary difference foster carers make every single day to young people’s lives.
Fostering is one of the most rewarding ways to support children and young people locally. We are always looking for people who can offer a safe, caring home and we provide extensive training, professional support and financial allowances to help carers succeed. Amy and Ross’s story shows just how powerful fostering can be.
This celebration of fostering comes as a new mini-documentary launches today, Tuesday 6 January, featuring writer, comedian and family man Adam Buxton. The film follows Adam as he visits 2 local authority foster families, approaching fostering from the perspective of someone who ‘doesn’t know anything about children in care.’
Every day, across our local communities, more than 300 children and young people are growing up in our care. Behind that figure are real stories – stories of children who have had to leave everything familiar behind: their homes, their schools, their friends and often their brothers and sisters.
We hope this national recognition, combined with the real-life stories of foster carers in the documentary, will encourage others to consider fostering. We're always looking for people from all walks of life who can offer a safe and caring home, whether short-term, long-term or for teenagers and sibling groups.
Fostering is a vital community role, and carers are fully supported with training, professional guidance and financial allowances. Research shows that children thrive best in family environments so by becoming a foster carer, residents can play a direct role in shaping brighter futures for local children and young people.
Anyone interested in learning more about fostering with us is encouraged to get in touch and find out how they can make a lasting difference in their community.