Fostering can mean everything to those involved. That is the message of a powerful new fostering film launched this week by over 100 councils across England.
A special local premiere of the new fostering film was held at The Courtyard Theatre in Hereford on Thursday 17 October and was attended by Herefordshire’s foster carers, councillors and Herefordshire Council staff.
It’s the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering. This year’s project is the largest collaboration of partners yet, with participants from reaching from Cumbria to Devon and Lancashire to Essex.
‘Everything’ 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 an 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. Mike’s son Chris is involved throughout, showing the important role the children of foster carers play.
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.
‘Everything’ is available to view on the Herefordshire fostering facebook account or on the council's youtube channel.
Councillor Ivan Powell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:
“The ‘Everything’ project has given our fostering service an amazing film that shows the long-term impact fostering can have, with relationships between carers and children lasting well into adulthood.
“All councils need to recruit more foster carers, and by collaborating to produce this powerful film, we can show people how rewarding and life-changing fostering is. The message is the same for all of us – we need more people to step forward and become foster carers. ‘Everything’ will help us to reach more people in Herefordshire and encourage them to find out more about this really rewarding role.”
Rachel Brown, Project Director, describes the main message of the film, said:
“Many people don’t realise how common it is for relationships made through fostering to last well beyond the ‘official’ caring role. This has a huge impact on the lives of those who have been fostered, giving them stability and security well into adulthood. We also wanted to reflect how the children of foster carers make a difference to children when they come into care, helping them to feel part of the family.”
Sarah Thomas, chief executive of the Fostering Network, added:
"The Fostering Network has been proud to support the collaborative film projects since 'Giants' in 2017. 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.”