Life-changing impact of foster carers celebrated in powerful new film
22 Oct 2024 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
To watch the full film and find out more visit: www.northumberland.gov.uk/foster
Northumberland County Council has joined forces with councils around the country to celebrate the life-changing impact of foster carers and to encourage more to join the team.
Fostering can mean everything to those involved and change their lives forever. That is the message of a powerful new fostering film from over 100 councils.
There is a national shortage of foster families with over 370 needed in the North East alone.
In Northumberland, the Council recently announced an increase in our payments to foster carers in the first stage of wider plans to grow our fostering provision and strengthen support available.
Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member for Inspiring Young People, said: “Our foster carers are valued members of our Children’s Services team which was recently rated as Outstanding by Ofsted.
“The difference they make to the lives of children in their care is life-changing and 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 emotionally powerful film, we will show people the rewards that fostering brings.”
‘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 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. 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.
Northumberland County Council are now part of the 12-council strong regional hub – Foster With North East, and are calling for single people, couples and anyone over the age of 25 with a spare room and an affinity with children and young people to come forward to see the difference they could make to one or many children’s lives.
To watch the full film and find out more visit: www.northumberland.gov.uk/foster