A COUPLE who are among North Yorkshire’s longest serving foster carers are urging others to make a difference for children and young people in care.

Norman and Jennifer Wharton have been fostering for 20 years, offering permanent foster placements and respite care to children and teenagers.

The couple, from near Thirsk, were presented with a long service award at a recent fostering conference held by North Yorkshire County Council.

The event attracted more than 100 foster carers to attend training workshops and presentations on issues such as brain development and the impact of early childhood trauma.

Mrs Wharton said: “We’ve lived very ordinary lives and I don’t think people realise that in the same village or the next town there are children not being cared for properly.

“If you want to make an improvement in the life of someone who is less fortunate than we’ve been growing up then you should think about fostering.”

The county’s executive member for children, Tony Hall, added: “Every child and young person deserves to have someone who believes in them and I’m always humbled by the incredible work our foster carers do in making this possible.”

For information about becoming a foster carer and to find out about a a series of information events about to be held across the county, visit northyorks.gov.uk/fostering or call Fostering North Yorkshire on 0800 054 6989.