Foster carer Chris Meadows has been awarded an MBE after 30 years of service in Islington.

Chris has fostered over 80 children over these three decades, and received her award from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace earlier this month.

She and her husband Peter currently foster children under the age of five, but have provided emergency, respite and long-term placements for kids up to 16.

Chris, a member of Islington Association for Foster Carers, said: “I was inspired to get into fostering by my parents, who fostered children in Harrow for 30 years too. I’d like to thank my husband Peter for being there with me, I could not have done this without him. We sadly lost our son earlier this year, but I know he would have been very proud of this achievement.

“It was a lovely day at the Palace and meeting Prince Charles. Fostering is a really rewarding experience and it’s nice to be able to make change to a child’s life.

“You learn things from every child you foster – each one teaches you how to be a better foster parent for the next.”

Anyone interested in fostering can call Islington Fostering on 0800 073 0428 or email fostering@islington.gov.uk