DEDICATED foster parents from across North Yorkshire gathered to celebrate a positive year of looking after more than 300 children and young people.

The annual Fostering North Yorkshire (FNY) conference brought together foster carers, children, their support workers, childcare professionals, county councillors and staff.

The keynote speaker, Scott King, spoke from experience – and the heart – during his contribution at the conference.

Mr King and his brother grew up in the care system themselves and he now runs a company that specialises in training foster carers and child care professionals.

County Councillor Janet Sanderson, North Yorkshire’s executive member for children’s services, said: “Scott’s presentation reflected very much the ethos of FNY.

“We recognise that being a foster carer is an incredibly important job, helping to develop positive relationships, experiences and skills that have sometimes been missed out on earlier in life.

“Foster carers who look after young people for FNY come from many backgrounds, but they all want to make a difference to the lives of children and young people they foster and to help them through this difficult time in their lives.

“The conference is a great opportunity for them to meet fellow carers, chat with staff and hear talks from some of the world’s leading childcare experts.

“It’s also an opportunity for us to recognise their work and present long service certificates to so many of them.”

For details on how to get involved, call Fostering North Yorkshire on 01609-534654.