Launch of ‘Childhood’ – short film to raise awareness of the need for foster carers

In a ground-breaking national collaboration, 56 Local Authorities across England have worked together to create a short film to raise awareness of fostering.
Published: 17 Oct 2022

It is aimed at finding more people who may be interested in becoming foster carers and providing nurturing, positive homes for children and young people across the country who need them.

The new film, simply called ‘Childhood’, highlights the impact of neglect on children, particularly brothers and sisters who may be left at times to try and care for each other. It shows the journey of ‘Sophie’ and ‘Charlie’ who are in a very difficult home situation where their needs are not being met, to being nurtured and supported through foster care to attend school and be able to enjoy their hobbies and interests. In other words, have a childhood. Watch the short film on YouTube.

Councillor Stephen Burroughes, Deputy Cabinet Member for Fostering and Adoption, said:

Children in need of foster carers are some of the most vulnerable members of our society and helping them grow into successful, confident and resilient young adults can be hugely rewarding.It’s really important to get more people talking about foster care and I would encourage Suffolk residents to look at their own lives to consider whether they have the patience, compassion and the spare room required to provide a child with the secure home life they need.

Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, says:

We continue to value and support foster carers but we urgently need more foster carers to come forward to care for children within their local communities. Foster carers are the bedrock of children’s social care; they are vital in our society and our young people rely on their care, dedication, passion and skills to support them when they need it most.Across the UK, around 9,265 more fostering families are needed, to make sure every child that can’t live with their own family gets the care they need.Currently, there are over 70,000 children living with almost 56,000 foster families in the UK, and the number of children coming into care keeps rising. The reasons children become looked after vary widely. We need more people to come forward to foster, to stand by their side and to be there for them no matter what.

The aim is that this film will be shared on all 56 participating council’s social media and other platforms, right across the country, reaching many more people and leading them to consider whether the rewarding role of fostering could be an option for them.

If you think you might be interested or know someone who might be interested in becoming a foster carer, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01473 264800 or alternatively visit our the Fostering page on our website for more information.