MOST of us are lucky enough to grow up in stable, loving families.

But not everyone. In York at the moment, there are 192 children and young people in the care of the city council.

Most of them - 167 - are with foster families. Another 25 are in children’s homes or other residential placements.

The council believes it is always best to place a child with a loving foster family where possible. But that means there is always a need for responsible adults willing to become a foster carer.

“Our foster carers are incredible people," says Cllr Suzie Mercer, executive member for children at City of York Council. "They give stable, caring homes for our young people and children in care and we urgently need more."

Anyone becoming a foster carer will be fully trained and supported. And they'll also be remunerated - with the amount they receive depending on their skill and experience.

So do you think you have what it takes to help give a young person a good start in life? If so, the council wants to hear from you. Full details of how to find out more are given below.

Meanwhile, we spoke to four teenagers brought up in care in and around York about what a difference their foster parents had made to them...

THE TEENAGERS

Lauren, 15

York Press:

Lauren was taken into foster care when she was six years old. It was a confusing time, and her first placement didn't work out. She was moved from foster family to foster family for a while, but then two and a half years ago found a family with whom she clicked. She knows her foster mother isn't her real mother, she says - but they have a great relationship, and, perhaps for the first time in her life, she feels settled.

"She's amazing!" Lauren says of her foster mum. "She has supported me in so many ways - more than anybody else."

She had always found it difficult to trust people - whether adults or children of her own age - enough to form relationships or make friends, Lauren admits, preferring to keep to herself. But she has that trust now with her foster mum. "She has been really reliable, and she hasn't gone anywhere!"

Another thing that has helped Lauren has been Show Me That I Matter, the 'council' for children in care in York. She joined when she was nine, going along to monthly meetings with other children in care like her to talk about their lives and things that matter to them. "I joined the group, and made friends with one of the girls," she says. "We could talk about our experiences."

The group has regular meetings with the senior York councillors and council officers responsible for children and young people. And one of the things they have achieved is to draw up the York's Guarantee document - a series of pledges made by the council to children and young people in care (see panel).

Lauren herself is now doing her GCSEs, and hopes to go to college, perhaps in Selby, to study sociology, psychology and law. One day she'd like to be a social worker. She feels it's a job she could do. "When professionals used to say that they could understand me, I used to say that they couldn't," she says. "But I would know where children were coming from."

There's only one person she wants to come with her to her college interviews - her foster mum. "She's coming to interviews with me," she says.

Shelly, 18

York Press:

You can tell if a family is really a family, because any true parents will set boundaries for their kids, says Shelly. She'd never had that before she was taken into care at the age of nine. Her foster parents provided the rules she'd always unconsciously craved. "I wanted that," she admits.

She has been very lucky with her foster family, Shelly says. Her foster dad is opinionated but very funny, and her foster mum is organised.

Most important of all, they involved Shelly in everything. She thought when the family went on holiday, she'd be put into a temporary placement - but no, she was included in the holidays. Her new foster parents bought her clothes, and organised horse riding lessons for her. "And they took me to Tesco!" she says. "I'd never been anywhere so big."

She moved out into her own flat when she was 17, but her foster parents were still there for her. "She (Shelly's foster mum) did an emergency shop for me when I ran out of money. And and says she will always look after me."

They have had a huge impact on her life, she says. Without them, and the stability and rules they provided, she'd probably not have done well at school. As it is, she studied health and social care at York College. "I want to work with children in care," she says. She's already made a good start - landing an apprenticeship at City of York Council which enables her to get involved in working for young people.

Amy, 18

York Press:

Amy ended up in care in her early teens. She was placed with one foster family, but that didn't work out. She was then placed with another family - and has been with them for four years. "They're like parents to me!" she says simply. It is the trust that has been most important. "When they open up to you, you open up to them."

She's studied sociology, psychology and law at A-level and hopes to go to university in September to study psychology. But she'll still come home for the holidays, she says. And if, one day, she gets married..."My foster dad will walk me down the aisle. They are there. We've become a family."

Like Lauren, she too found that being a part of the Show Me That I Matter group - and, once she turned 18, the I Still Matter group for care leavers - gave her confidence and helped her make friends with other young people like herself.

"I just rocked up one day," she says. "It was a bit intimidating. But everybody was friendly." Being a member of the group helped her to find her voice and find a purpose. Through the group she has spoken up about the need for support and advocacy for young people brought up in care for care to continue after they reach the age of 18. She's even been to the House of Commons. "The group gave me confidence to speak out, and made me feel that people were listening."

Jade, 19

York Press:

Jade, who was taken into care at 14, admits that for a long time she'd felt as though she didn't fit in. "I was an extra piece of the jigsaw that didn't fit."

Her foster parents changed all that. "They were brilliant with me, they made me feel so welcome and comfortable." She left care at 16, but when she asked her foster parents if she could come back they welcomed her. "Your real family are always your family, but in some cases, sometimes there are people who come into your life and make such a difference. I wouldn't be where I am now without my foster family."

Where she is now is studying outdoor adventure sports at Askham Bryan College. She loves kayaking, and hopes one day to be a water sports instructor.

It was partly becoming a member of Show Me That I Matter that gave her the confidence to pursue her dream. Through them, she got involved with York-based Inspired Youth to launch Aspire to More, a website and poster campaign which aims to inspire other children in care and care leavers to live their dreams.

The website includes interviews with other care leavers who went on to be successes in life. And being involved in the project made Jade realise she could do the same.

"We wanted to show children in care that you can do what you want to do. You don't need to let people put you down," she says.

BECOMING A FOSTER CARER

Becoming a foster carer is a big commitment, and it has to be right for both the children and young people themselves and for the foster carer , says City of York Council.

The process can take a few months., and includes an initial visit to your home by a social worker to provide more information and discuss whether fostering is right for you. You'll be invited to an initial training course with other interested people and then, if you decide to go ahead, more detailed assessments will start.

The more experienced and skilled a foster carer is, the more remuneration they get. Besides a weekly allowance to cover basic costs payments vary depending on the age and needs of the child being fostered. Some people choose to carry on working and some find being a full time foster carer is very rewarding in many ways.

Payments continue if it’s agreed a young person can stay with their foster carer beyond the age of 18. Their support continues, including access to advocacy services, education and training.

The council encourages foster carers to take advantage of a wide range of training from first aid to managing challenging behaviour. These may be day workshops or shorter evening sessions.

"Young people tell us how much they value caring, stable foster care," a council spokesperson said. "So if you think it may be for you, please get in touch.”

To find out more, call 01904 555 333 or email fostering@york.gov.uk

You can find out more about the different kinds of fostering needed in York at www.york.gov.uk/fostering

THE YORK GUARANTEE

York's Guarantee to children and young people in care, drawn up in consultation with young people through Show Me That I matter, includes pledges such as:

- We will make sure you are always treated with respect

- We will help you keep in touch with friends and family wherever possible

- We will help you in school

- We will make sure you have a reliable social worker

- We will support you until you're an adult, and help you with training, housing and managing your money