New film highlights that fostering is everything

‘Everything’ 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.

‘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.

Paulette Hunte, Assistant Head of Service and Operational Lead for Recruitment (Fostering) at Birmingham Children’s Trust said:

“Foster Birmingham is delighted to have had the opportunity to collaborate on this incredibly moving and powerful short film. It really encapsulates the positive impact fostering can have on the foster child, but also on the foster carer’s children. This a great message.”

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."

Interested in fostering?

If you believe that you could offer a loving and secure home to a child, young person, or sibling group, we would love to hear from you and are currently fast-tracking applications!

Contact our friendly team today for an informal discussion about how we can help you start your fostering journey on 0121 303 7575, or enquire online at www.fosterbirmingham.co.uk/everythingfilm.