A CAMPAIGN to show how fostering children and young people can transform lives is aiming to give a realistic view of the children involved.

The campaign runs from May 11 to 24 and shows how foster care transforms the lives of children and young people across the country.

The theme this year is ‘This is Fostering’ to convey an authentic picture of the people involved in fostering.

Director of North Yorkshire County Council's Children and Young People’s services, Stuart Carlton, said “We know that people often have misconceptions around fostering and think they can’t do it due to their own personal life; they are single, work full-time or are too old. But none of these things matter. Fostering a child or young person can transform a life and we’re looking for people who have space in their home – and their heart – and can offer them a positive and loving home environment.

“Foster carers accomplish incredible things every day, even in the face of a global crisis that has affected every one of us and impacted all aspects of our society. Could you offer a welcoming foster home to a local child or young person who needs one?

“Fostering can transform the lives of children, and during this difficult time, our team are adapting the way they work through phone calls and Skype. Fostering North Yorkshire (FNY) has an excellent record for placing more than 300 children and young people per year in care with local foster families.”

Across the county there is a need for foster carers who can offer homes to older children and sibling groups.

Fostering provides a safe and positive environment and can transform a young person’s life for the better. FNY is proud of the support it gives foster carers, by providing training and support from locally based social work teams.

There are networks of local foster carers and local support groups that are there to care for those who need it and each foster carer has their own dedicated social worker, and each child or young person does too.

By recruiting foster carers based locally, NYCC ensures children and young people can stay in the county, close to their own communities and family links. This improves their educational and health outcomes, therefore providing them with the best possible life chances.

For more information about becoming a foster carer with FNY, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/fostering or call them on 01609-534654.