Could you foster and change 'everything' for a child?

Cumbria Fostering has released an emotive new short film ‘Everything’, which shows the transformative effect of fostering on children and young people, to encourage potential carers to come forward in Cumbria.

Fostering can mean everything to those involved. That is the message of Cumbria Fostering’s emotive new short film, created in collaboration with over 100 councils.

‘Everything’ will be launched on Thursday (17 October). It is the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering. The ‘Everything’ project is the largest collaboration yet, with participants from Cumbria to Devon and Lancashire to Essex.

Director of Children’s Services at Cumberland Council, Martin Birch, 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 emotionally powerful film, we will show people how rewarding and life-changing fostering is.”

Director of Children’s Services at Westmorland and Furness Council, Mil Vasic, added: “The message is the same for all of the councils involved in making this film – we need more people to step forward and become foster carers. ‘Everything’ will help us to reach more people in our communities and encourage them to find out more about this really rewarding role.

“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.”

‘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 60 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.

The film was developed with the input and insight of foster carers and people with care experience. Project Director, Rachel Brown describes the main message of the film: “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.”

The national launch of ‘Everything’ will be held at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham on 17 October and you can also sign up now to watch the live, online premiere of the film on our You Tube channel here.

Sarah Thomas, chief executive of the Fostering Network said: "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.

“One of the main characters in the film, Chris, shows how important other family members are when it comes to fostering. This is something we champion throughout October, which is Children of Foster Carer's Month."

Despite already supporting a community of 275 foster carers across the county, with more than 725 children in care, Cumbria Fostering urgently needs more local people to come forward as foster carers to prevent vulnerable children being placed with families away from their local area or separated from siblings.

In order to foster for us you must have at least one spare room and the time and commitment to support and nurture a child. In return we offer an excellent package of training support and allowances for each child you foster.

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