Thurrock Council have collaborated with over 100 councils to produce a powerful new fostering film which showcases the impact fostering can have on everyone who is involved.
‘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.
The film is the latest in a series of 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.
‘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, where 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 national launch of ‘Everything’ will be held at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham on Thursday 17 October.
Thurrock Council’s fostering service will be launching the project locally on Thursday 17 October at Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock, with the film being shown on display screens throughout the day.
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."
Cllr Vikki Hartstean, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education, said: “The ‘Everything’ project has given Thurrock’s fostering service an amazing film that showcases the long-term impact fostering can have, with relationships between carers and children lasting well into adulthood.
“There is a need for all councils to recruit more foster carers. By collaborating with over 100 other local authorities to produce this emotionally powerful film, we can inspire more people to think about fostering and show people how rewarding and life-changing it can be.
“The message is the same for all of us – 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 every child and young person in Thurrock the best chance to thrive and for the vulnerable children and young people we care, local fostering families can help to provide the stability and loving environment that is needed for them to flourish.”