It could be any family snap. Mum and dad looking on proudly at their son. But this is not an ordinary family picture - because Joe and Anne Devine hadn't even met young Billy just over a year ago.

The big-hearted couple from Greenhills in East Kilbride realised something was missing in their life when their own children Craig and Carrie-Anne grew up and left home.

The answer was simple: why not give another child a better chance in life by becoming foster parents?

Anne, 53, says it was something she had long dreamed about.

"We had thought about fostering years ago, but decided to leave it until our own children were grown up.

"It was always something I wanted to do.

"And when our own two children left the house, I felt as if there was something missing from our home, so we decided this was the time to become foster carers."

The couple approached the Kibble Centre in Paisley which specialises in working with young people at risk - and that's where they first met their foster son.

They have been looking after Billy, 17, for a year and have helped him turn his life around.

The youngster is now holding down a full-time job at Kibble in their New Start project, helping under-16s prepare for leaving school and starting work.

Billy says: "Being in foster care has changed my life. Before, I didn't think I was going anywhere and I wasn't going to be able to do anything with my life.

"But now I've got a job and it's made me able to trust people and have a different perspective on life."

Joe, 51, says: "I got really interested in the Kibble's Intensive Fostering Service when I realised they were looking for people to look after older boys as I could relate to them, their previous lifestyle and their problems.

"Since coming to stay with us, Billy has matured, is more thoughtful, has a more positive outlook and appreciates the help that is on offer to him.

"I feel good that things are now going right for Billy and we have played a part in changing his life for the better.

"It's great to see how much he has improved in the time he has been with us.

"A big moment for me came when Billy and I were in the car one day a few months after he came to us and he asked if he could continue to stay with us after he was 18.

"I felt quite emotional hearing him say that and it was the moment I knew we were getting through to him.

"These boys need a chance in life and they are not asking for big things - just some normality. You can make a difference to a young boy's life and what might seem like a small contribution from you can be a huge contribution to the boy concerned."

Now the couple, who are full-time foster carers, are urging others to consider a career with the Kibble Education and Care Centre's Intensive Fostering Services (IFS).

A recruitment drive has been launched by the fostering service, offering specialised training and a combination of professional fees and allowances, which could be as much as £37,000 a year.

Anne adds: "Billy has told us he can't imagine living anywhere else. That's the kind of thing that brings a tear to your eye.

"You get a lot of pleasure seeing how you are making a positive difference to a young person's life and the journey you go through with them enriches your life as well."

"I get a lot of satisfaction being a foster carer."

Billy is backing the appeal for more foster parents.

"I would say to anyone thinking about being a foster carer that if they like working with boys and they could help them, then this is for you.

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy all the time, but I would encourage other people to do the same as Joe and Anne have done and become foster carers."

Kay Gibson, operations manager for Kibble's Intensive Fostering Services, says they are looking for people to become foster carers to boys aged between 12 and 18.

She says: "Our specialised foster carers work to a high standard. They must have an HNC SVQ in Social Care, or be prepared to study with support to gain these qualifications.

"The free training to gain these nationally-recognised qualifications will be provided by Kibble Education and Care Centre.

"This is a skilled job and the generous fees and allowances reflect that.

"We want to attract people who are perhaps already in child care or have thought about fostering as a career change for them.

"The type of people we would like to work with us will have a strong interest and commitment to helping young people and come from a diverse range of backgrounds.

"Our foster carers will get great job satisfaction from working with these young people because will see they can make a positive difference to their lives."