Heartwarming short film highlights urgent need for more foster carers in Staffordshire
A heartwarming new short film to highlight the urgent need for foster carers in Staffordshire has been released.
‘The Run’ focuses on 11-year-old boy Tom, whose life is transformed thanks to his foster family.
Despite the disadvantages Tom faces before being fostered, including not having PE kit for school, the film’s climax shows Tom taking part in an athletics tournament, running in a stadium with the support of his new foster family.
What started as a small local project in the Midlands is now a major nationwide campaign involving over 90 local authority fostering services, project managed by CAN Digital. This is the seventh short film in the series, which premiered at Everyman Cinema in Birmingham on Thursday (October 9).
Nick Lakin, cabinet member for children and young people at Staffordshire County Council, said: “These short films are incredibly impactful and are a great way of raising awareness of fostering and the difference it can make to children’s lives.
“The film is really engaging and has a clear message that there’s an urgent need for more foster carers to step forward across the country. For example, here in Staffordshire, we need to recruit around 60 families this year to help our children in care realise their true potential, just like Tom in the film.
“If fostering is something you’re thinking about then please get in touch with the team.”
Local authority fostering services are under pressure like never before as more children need a safe and stable home. This is combined with increased competition from independent fostering agencies to recruit foster carers.
The film’s project director Rachel Brown said: “This whole project grew out of the constant struggle to recruit foster carers when you have limited resources. By working as a group, which has grown from 12 to over 90 councils across the country, we’ve found a way to raise our voice.
“'The Run’ won’t change things on its own, but we hope that everyone who sees it will at least pause for thought, hopefully stepping forward to help our most vulnerable children and young people.”
Find out more about fostering with Staffordshire County Council on the Foster with Staffordshire website or by calling 0800 169 2061.
