A NEW campaign has been launched to encourage people in North Yorkshire to take in foster children.

Fostering North Yorkshire (FNY), has released a new video to challenge the myth that fostering teenagers is always difficult, featuring some of the region’s carers and young people who have experience of the care system.

FNY is part of North Yorkshire County Council, and helps look after more than 300 children each year, with foster carers coming from a range of backgrounds and families.

County Councillor Janet Sanderson said she hoped people looking for a fresh start in 2018 could consider fostering as a way forward.

She said: “A new year brings new opportunities, so FNY is asking anyone who has a spare bedroom – and a desire to offer support to a young person – to take the time to watch this film and consider helping a young person to make a new start.

“It’s full of inspirational moments – with our foster carers saying how much fostering means to them and how much support and encouragement they receive from FNY. There are very moving remarks from some of our young people as well. Vicky, one of our care leavers who’s gone on to make a successful career for herself in a hair salon, tells us that foster care has brought the best out of her, while Jamie says that he’d like to introduce a child in care ‘to a family like I’ve got’.”

An FNY-accredited carer receives more than £300 each week tax-free for fostering a child aged 11 to 15, and carers who complete advanced training and support teenagers with challenging behaviours can receive around £29,000 annually.

Find out more at northyorks.gov.uk/fostering or phone 01609 534654. Fostering Teenagers, Changing Lives is at northyorks.gov.uk/life-foster-carer.