Gloucestershire County Council Fostering has launched a powerful new campaign, highlighting the urgent need for more foster carers across the county — and nationwide — in its latest short film.
'Any Of Us' is the sixth film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children's trusts to promote local authority fostering and is the largest public sector fostering film collaboration yet, with more than 80 participants from across the country — including Gloucestershire.
The 'Any Of Us' film takes a look at three different people who all demonstrate the attributes needed to be a foster carer in their daily lives.
Ayesha aids a pedestrian after a minor road accident; Neil calms down an aggressive situation in a snooker club; and Marsha identifies a young person showing signs of distress and intervenes with them at school.
One of these people will become foster carer to Chloe — but who will it be?
The scenarios show how each person displays their caring instinct, which is fundamental to being a foster carer. Crucially, the film shows that none of these people are superheroes; they are regular people with transferable skills that they have gained through work and life, that can be applied to the world of fostering.
'Any Of Us' has been produced by ReelTwentyFive and project managed by CAN Digital/Rachel Brown.
Project director, Rachel Brown, explained the thinking behind the film: 'Whilst there is always a core message about the difference fostering makes within our films, ‘Any Of Us’ has been more ambitious in telling three different stories from diverse foster carers, based around them sharing their experiences with people considering fostering.
'We hope that this will mean that the film and its messaging will appeal to as wider audience as possible and encourage people to foster for their local authority.'
Councillor Stephen Davies, cabinet member for children's safeguarding and early years, said: 'First and foremost, this project is about giving our fostering service a high-quality film that highlights the fact that anyone who cares has the potential to become a foster carer.
'All councils have their own area in which to recruit foster carers, so it makes great business sense to collaborate to produce a film that communicates a universal message: We all need more people to step forward and become foster carers.
'That message is the same, from London to the Lake District – every town, city and county – consider if you can offer a home to our most vulnerable children and young people.
'We really care about the work that we do. It’s all about giving children a chance to thrive and become the best person they can be.'
For more information or a no-obligation chat with the Gloucestershire County Council Fostering team, call (01242) 532654, visit gloucestershire.gov.uk/fostering/anyofus or email fostering@gloucestershire.gov.uk
