This year’s event was planned and delivered by the South Lanarkshire Champions Board whose members talked about their personal experiences and ambitions.

Paul Manning, the Chief Executive of South Lanarkshire Council, said: “Care Day is the world’s largest international celebration of children and young people with care experience.

“This is the third year we have been able to deliver such a large event, reflecting on the last year and the work of the Champions Board.”

The Champions Board was set up to allow care experienced children and young people to have their voices and aspirations heard.

Members of the board also talked about how they have helped influence the work being taken forward by the local community planning partners as part of the council’s Promise to support children, young people and families.

Margaret Walker, chair of the council’s Social Work Resources Committee, said: “The work of our champions is both inspirational and influential.

“With their fantastic input we are able to implement positive changes for all care experienced children.”

The event, held at the council’s headquarters in Hamilton, also had a wide range of speakers sharing learning of experiences of all aspects of the care system and the services available to young people.

Stephanie Kimmet, the council’s Promise Development Worker, said: “This event celebrates all the positives over the past year that we have achieved.

“The Champions have grown so much with confidence and knowledge and have been able to constructively challenge professionals and help drive change across South Lanarkshire.”

Care Day showcases all the great work that is being carried out to ensure that care experienced young people are best prepared to take on all the challenges that life throws at everyone on an equal and positive footing.

Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The Champions Board was set up to allow our care experienced children and young people to have their voices and aspirations heard and help us shape and adapt the services we can offer our care-experienced communities.

“Our Promise to them is to ensure every child grows up loved, safe and respected and able to realise their full potential.”