Fostering is . . .Everything

17 October 2024

Fostering can mean everything to those involved. That is the message of a powerful new fostering film from Cheshire East Council.

‘Everything’ will be launched today (Thursday, October 17) and 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.

Councillor Carol Bulman, chair of Cheshire East Council’s children and families committee, 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.

“Across our borough we need more people to step forward and become foster carers so our vulnerable young people can thrive with local fostering families. Caring for our children and young people and giving them a safe, secure family home, is truly one of the best and most rewarding jobs there is.”

‘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.

The film, developed with the input and insight of foster carers and people with care experience, was produced by ReelTwentyFive and project managed by public sector media partner CAN/Rachel Brown. 

Project director Rachel Brown said: “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.

“Having over 100 councils taking part in the project, the film will reach a very wide audience, encouraging people to find out more and take the steps towards becoming a foster carer. Fostering with your local council or children’s trust means you can better support local children and young people who need a safe and nurturing home where they can grow and thrive.”
The national launch of ‘Everything’ will be held at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham and council fostering services involved in the project will also be holding local launches around the country.

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.”
‘Everything’ is the latest in a series of film collaborations that started in 2017 with ‘Giants’, which was supported by a small number of local authorities in the midlands and has now grown into a national project across England, reflecting the need to recruit more foster carers.

The fostering film will be live on the Cheshire East YouTube channel on Thursday October 17 at noon.
To find out more about fostering, visit https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/fostering/fostering.aspx call 03456 460098 or email: Enquiry@foster4.co.uk.