Outstaning Volunteer - Nominees

The couple married 21 years ago and had intended to start a family straight away.

Avril soon gave up work to set up a home but when they discovered they were unable to have children of their own she became a full-time mum to a series of foster children.

She quickly adjusted to looking after other people's children on both a long-term basis and for shorter respite care. Her entire day is now devoted to caring for them.

To date the couple have fostered 48 youngsters including a number of children with severe physical disabilities and special needs.

Their ages generally range from young babies to late teens.

But one 20-year-old has been with Avril, 58, and Tom, 56, since he was 15 months old.

The couple - who have only Tom's wage as a care assistant and their fostering allowance - are so dedicated to the children that they saved to move a house which would better accommodate the youngsters.

They stayed within Station Road, Rishton, but moved into a home with a garage which they converted into a wheelchair friendly bedroom and bathroom.

The room is principally for the 20-year-old who has been with them long-term, but is of benefit to others also.

A number of the children who have stayed with Tom and Avril have had disabilities such as cerebral palsy, harelip, cleft palate, and others have been severely handicapped.

Anne Yates, who nominated the pair, said: "They are a lovely, cheerful, loving couple who devote themselves to the children they care for."

Pam Jones, children and families consultant at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "At a recent event celebrating the achievement of young people in care, I was very impressed by foster parents' expressions of love for and pride in the youngsters they care for and bring up.

"Working in partnership with social work, education and health they all do a brilliant job. Myself and colleagues felt humbled by the experience.

"It is terrific to see the warmth and patient hard work that foster parents bring to their role paying off for the children.

Helping solve juvenile nuisance and drug problem. ANNE-MARIE Smith was a parent worried about the area in which her children were growing up - so she did something to improve it.

Anne-Marie, 41, who has six youngsters of her own and also fosters children, has transformed the Bank Top area of Blackburn by initiating Parents Action for the Community and Town (PACT).

She and her partner Sinclair, 43, moved from Scotland to Blackburn in 1981 and found Bank Top to be a nice community to live but the area began to deteriorate and juvenile nuisance and drugs became a problem.

Not to be beaten by the anti-social behaviour she invested her own time to find a solution.

Anne-Marie brought together like-minded parents and local residents to find the source of the problem and work on a solution.

The group launched an investigation into the reasons for anti-social behaviour in the area and the root problem was concluded to be boredom. Anne-Marie decided social and leisure activities need to be created.

A disused pub was secured as premises and local businesses helped with finance and provisions. Additional funding has also come from the Children's Fund, Life Long Learning, the Healthy Living Centre and many other agencies plus fundraising activities.

Despite being a full-time mum Anne-Marie devoted all of her time to PACT and often worked 10am until 10pm.

Her children go along to activities organised by PACT after school and in the holidays and Sinclair is a big help.

PACT now has a mother and toddler group and a local job centre so people don't have to travel into town in addition to computer facilities and organises activities for young people.

The whole area has benefited from Anne-Marie's actions which have reduced the number of youths congregating on corners and increased facilities for residents of all ages.

Chief Insp Andrew Pratt, Blackburn with Darwen Council's drug action team co-ordinator, said: "PACT has had a positive impact and this can be seen from the reduction in the number of children that congregate on street corners.

"It would never have materialised were it not for the dedication of Anne-Marie. She made an enormous amount of effort to reduce the social problems blighting her neighbourhood."

Sammy Gray, a resident of Bank Top, said: "Ever since she realised that there wasn't anyone interested or capable of helping the children and the people in the local area of Bank Top she started on a virtually impossible task.

"And although she looks after seven kids, with the support of her partner the two of them have never given up in helping whoever and whenever they can."

Irene's heartfelt CRY. EVER since her son died suddenly of a rare heart condition Irene Wickers has devoted her time to preventing other families going through the same heartache.

Neil was just 31 and a regular gym user who appeared to be in perfect health. But in 1996 he collapsed and his family discovered he had a rare heart condition called cardiac sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a disease of the connective tissue which usually strikes the lungs but can effect other organs. It affects 20 in every 100,000 people in England.

Soon after Neil's death Irene, 59, of Bolton Road, Darwen, got in touch with the national organisation CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

She was impressed by the work of the charity and along with another Darwen family, who lost their 17-year-old son in 1994, set up the North West branch of CRY.

The group works to raise awareness of cardiac risk in the young and raises money to stage screening sessions, conducted by specialists from a London hospital, for 14-34 year-olds.

Irene, who is married to Bill, 68, and has three surviving children, works tirelessly to organise fundraising events and secure donations from local businesses.

Through her role she has helped the committee of six to raise more than £30,000 in the hope of saving other young people's lives.

The money has paid for two free screening sessions at the Inshape health club in Darwen and Darwen health centre. These would normally cost members of the public £250.

At the last screening, of the 30 people who were attended six had potential heart problems and underwent treatment as a direct result of the screening.

Angela Wilson, Irene's daughter, said: "I know that she is my mum but she really has been an inspiration to the rest of the family.

"Her philosophy is that if she can save one family from the heartache we have suffered then all her time and dedication will have been worthwhile."

A spokesman for CRY's head office said: "Irene Wickers is one of our fundraisers who has supported us for many years.

"She has organised a large fundraising team which helps her including family and friends and never a week goes by when we don't receive a donation from her. She has been instrumental in organising screening in the North as well as raising awareness of cardiac risk in young people. Her work is greatly welcomed by all at CRY."