Posted on Monday 21st October 2024
L-R Alan Hudson foster carer, Cllr Mark Sutton and Mike Day foster carer
Fostering can mean everything to those involved. That’s the message of a powerful new fostering film to highlight the urgent need for foster carers.
Staffordshire County Council’s fostering service, along with foster carers gathered at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre today (18 October) to get their first glimpse of the film.
The short film follows foster carer Mike and his family on a journey through time with two of the children they have looked after, who are now adults. A surprise 60th birthday party for Mike gives Will and Zara a chance to reflect on how being fostered made a difference to their lives, thanking him for everything.
Thanks to footage shot on a genuine old camcorder, we are taken to the 1990s, to see how Will settles into the family. We also jump back to the 2010s, when a young Zara is being taught to play the guitar by Mike, something that comes full circle when she performs a song at the party.
The concluding message of the film is that what you do with your life could forever change someone else’s, encouraging people to foster in order to make that change.
Talking about the film, Mark Sutton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Staffordshire County Council said:
“This is another amazing film that shows the long-term impact fostering can have, with relationships between carers and children lasting well into adulthood.
“Here in Staffordshire, we need to recruit about 60 foster families per year, and by working together to produce this emotionally powerful film, we show people how rewarding and life-changing fostering is.
“We are committed to giving vulnerable children and young people we care for the best chance to thrive, which for the vast majority of them is with local fostering families. If it’s something you’re thinking about then please get in touch with the team.”
More than 100 council fostering services teamed up to produce the film which was developed with the input and insight of foster carers and people with care experience. It was produced by Reel TwentyFive and project managed by public sector media partner CAN.
Sarah Thomas, chief executive of the Fostering Network who supported the project said:
“It's great to see local authority fostering services pooling resources to produce another amazing film.
“Everything' will help to amplify their message about the chronic shortage of fostering households, encouraging more people to come forward and foster.”
People can watch the 'Everything' film on YouTube here.
Anyone interested in fostering can find out more on the Foster for Staffordshire website.