A Bermondsey foster carer who has “opened her heart” to 89 children over the last twenty years has been given a prestigious Southwark award.
Henrietta Onyema, 63, who famously offered her home’s toilet to thousands of people queuing to see Her Majesty the Queen lying in state, and featured on the John Bishop Show, said it was “very nice” to be recognised for her work.
Described as a “bundle of positivity” Henrietta joked that her job as a foster carer to so many had given her “high blood pressure” but that caring for vulnerable young people had been “the greatest reward for my heart”.
She was presented with the Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey at the Civic Award Ceremony at Southwark Cathedral on May 20, 2023.
Announcing the award, Southwark Mayor Michael Situ said: “Henrietta is a Southwark foster carer who has cared for some of our most of hard-to-reach young people – often in emergency situations.
“She is a bundle of positivity offering care and support to children and young people entering the foster system and always reflecting on how best to meet their individual needs.
“Henrietta opens both her heart and her home to children in need and is a worthy recipient of the honour of the Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey.”
She has cared for children who have endured extreme trauma and, over the years, has often found herself in police stations at 2am.
Henrietta said: “It was very nice and thoughtful of them. I’ve put myself out there. I’ve been in police stations at 2am. It’s a lot of pressure and it’s given me high blood pressure.”
Henrietta said the first-ever young person in her care was stabbed but turned his life around and is now a lawyer. “When you see the children change and transform it’s a very big reward for my heart. You feel satisfied and it’s worth it,” she said.
Henrietta’s unselfish act to open her home to queuers saw her feature on the front page of the Southwark News and one of her toilet visitors was Dame Kelly Holmes.
