A York woman has said she would not be where she is today without the support of a foster family who took her in.
Jade, 29, said she was overwhelmed by anger and fear when she first went to live with foster carer Sonia Dickinson at the age of 12.
The 29-year-old, from Heworth, added Mrs Dickinson had never walked away or asked for anything in return.
Mrs Dickinson, 62, has cared for children with her husband Paul for more than 20 years.
She was among the foster carers honoured during a reception hosted by York lord mayor Cllr Martin Rowley at York’s Mansion House in September.
Council Labour children’s spokesperson Cllr Bob Webb and children’s services director Martin Kelly also attended.
The reception saw awards given out to carers who had taken children in for at least 20 years, with some providing care for up to 40 years.
Among them were carers who had taken more than 300 children through a combination of emergency placements and short and long stays.
Jade, now a support worker, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the experience of foster care had helped her in every way.
Jade said: “There was a stigma around being in foster care when I was at school, everyone thought I lived in the Tracy Beaker house.
“When you’re in that position being in a home with a family is the most important thing, the carers help you feel like you’re a part of something and Sonia helped me to become a young woman.
“I’ve always said that if it wasn’t for Sonia I’d have been a 16-year-old girl with no self-respect or self-worth, she taught me to have that.”
Mrs Dickinson said it she was grateful to be recognised for her work with children.
The 62-year-old said: “Being a foster carer isn’t like a typical job that you go to, it’s within your home.
“It’s nice to have the opportunity to hear Jade say thank you and show children that coming into a foster family isn’t something scary.
“You give the children the confidence to do things. When Jade first went to college she was scared but we were there to back her up and support her.”
Lord Mayor Cllr Rowley has himself been a foster carer, with him and his wife and current consort Elizabeth first taking a child in 25 years ago.
The Conservative lord mayor said: “Foster carers in York play a vital role, many young people who live with them go on to stay in touch with them for the rest of their lives.
“They’re not just stand-in parents, they impact on young people’s lives forever in a really positive way.”
Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Labour spokesperson for children, said he was really grateful to be able to celebrate foster carers.
The executive member said: “These are people who look after some of our most vulnerable youngers, turn them around and change their lives.
“As a city we recognise these individuals and the wonderful things they do, and if anyone else would like to foster with us please get in touch.”
