Saughall woman Julie Elston is honoured for her work with children.

Mar 6 2009 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

Saughall woman Julie Elston is honoured for her work with children.

A CHESTER woman, described as a ‘saint’, has been honoured for her work with children.

Julie Elston, of Rakeway, Saughall, received the award for Promoting Children and Young People’s Well-Being at Cheshire County Council’s Celebrating Achievement with Children, Young People and Families Awards at the Portal Golf Club, Tarporley.

Julie, who has two grown-up children of her own, is a specialist teaching assistant at Dee Banks Special School and production manager of Jigsaw Music Theatre Company for seven to 16 year olds. She and Tony, her husband of 33 years, are registered foster carers and regularly offer respite care for families with children with special needs.

Julie was nominated for the award by Lesley Halliwell, whose son Patrick attends Dee Banks.

Lesley said: “As a parent of a young child with a range of complex disabilities I feel very strongly that it is the people who work with you and your child every day who make such a difference.

“Julie works tirelessly with and for young people and I am delighted that her work and achievements have been recognised.”

Chester Catholic High School student Natalie Wearden, 14, a member of Jigsaw, added: “We call her Saint Julie because she is always there for us in good times and in bad.”

Julie is modest about her work.

“Every child has something to offer, whether they have a special need or not,” she said.

“ I love to watch them growing in confidence and gaining self esteem.

“I am so lucky to work with such lovely children and I am so proud of what they achieve.”

Julie started working at Dee Banks in 1992 as a one-to-one carer before being taken on as a teaching assistant. She has always had a keen interest in theatre and recently involved the children in a Shakespeare festival at Clwyd Theatr Cymru and a joint production with Bishops’ Bluecoat CE High School.

As well as her work with Jigsaw, Julie was appointed children’s officer for the Chester Mystery Plays and pastoral carer for Cheshire Youth Theatre.

She has also worked as a chaperone for many Gateway Theatre productions involving children.

She said: “I am so proud to have won.

“ I know that there are a lot of people out there whose lives are so much more difficult than mine and I feel privileged to have been given this award.”