National fostering film project launches in Sandwell
Fostering services across the country are joining together for the national release of a new short film commissioned by the largest collaboration of local councils and children’s trusts from all over England.
The unique film project, developed by the West Midlands Regional Fostering Recruitment Forum is now working with councils around the country who have jointly funded the creation of a new film, aimed at helping to find more foster carers who can provide homes for the children and young people who need them.
The short film, called ‘Out There’, highlights the ways fostering can make a difference to the lives of everyone involved, from the children and young people who live with foster carers, to those who come forward to care for them.
Emma Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Sandwell Children’s Trust said,
“While we already have many brilliant foster carers in Sandwell, the reality is we always need more people to open their homes and their hearts to fostering.
This project has been a great way of us working together to make a high-quality film that will really help us to recruit more foster carers; and for them to play a crucial role in providing a safe and loving home for the children we care for.
The aim is that this film will be shared on social media in cities, towns and villages right across the UK, reaching countless people and showing them the many benefits fostering brings and we are very proud to have played a part in making it happen.”
A total of 34 local authorities have been involved in the project, and the film will have a virtual premiere at midday on 12 October which will include an introduction from Kevin Williams, the Chief Executive of The Fostering Network. Everyone attending from the participating councils and children’s trusts will then be asked to share the film via all social media platforms and help the message spread across the UK using the hashtags #FosterForYourCouncil and #findthebestofyou
Shanti Eaves, Head of Service, Children in Care, Care Leavers and Fostering added, “by being a part of this project, we can see that we get the best benefits from pooling resources. The time, knowledge and expertise that working as partners has brought to this project can now help the children and young people in our area.
“Our previous films have been really well received and have directly led to more people coming forward to foster in the participating areas, and so this time we thought we should be more ambitious and take a national approach, and we are very proud of the result.
“Out There is a beautifully poignant film which really captures many of the thoughts and emotions being felt today, particularly as many people have reflected during the pandemic about their life choices and the importance of community support. I think the film itself and the collaborative approach really demonstrates the benefit of collaborative working.”
‘Out There’ follows earlier partnership project between councils in the West Midlands that have produced the award-winning fostering films ‘Giants’ and ‘There was a Boy’.
The film will be available to watch and share from midday 12th October on the Sandwell Children’s Trust social media through Facebook and Twitter, as well as being on our own fostering recruitment page at www.sandwellchildrenstrust.org/fostering after the virtual launch event.
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Editors Notes
- For information about fostering for Sandwell you can call 0800 358 0899 register your interest via our website at sandwellchildrenstrust.org/fostering
- Following an Ofsted inspection of the Fostering Service published on 8th September 2021 Sandwell Children’s Trust’s Fostering Service is rated ‘good’.
- During the pandemic Sandwell Children’s Trust have continued to work to deliver services for children and families in Sandwell.
