FOSTER Care Fortnight begins next week, with an appeal to people in North Yorkshire to support children who need a home.

Fostering North Yorkshire (FNY), is part of North Yorkshire County Council and supporting the event, which runs from May 14 to 27. More than 300 children are looked after by the county’s foster carers every year, and FNY is seeking to recruit new carers in 2018, including people interested in full-time care and also those able to offer overnight short breaks for disabled children with additional or complex needs.

County Councillor Janet Sanderson, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Children’s Services said: "Foster caring is a challenging yet immensely rewarding experience and foster families like Ben’s often describe it as the best thing they’ve ever done – and often the best fun they’ve had.

"Our fostering families come from a wide range of backgrounds and family make-up, but what they all have in common is their desire to provide a secure and welcoming home for some of the county’s most vulnerable children. People often think they can’t foster because they are single, work or are too old, but none of these things matter. We’re looking for people who have space in their home – and their heart – for a young person and can offer them a positive and loving home environment."

To find out more, go to northyorks.gov.uk/fostering or phone FNY on 01609 534654.