National fostering film launches in Stockport - Fostering is…Everything

Stockport Council’s fostering service is joining fostering services across the country for the national release of a new short film commissioned by the largest collaboration of local councils and children’s trusts from all over England. A total of 100 local authorities have been involved in the project. It is the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts across England to promote local authority fostering. The ‘Everything’ project is the largest collaboration yet.

The national launch of ‘Everything’ was held at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham and the film is available to view at: https://youtu.be/MtizLM57L3I?feature=shared

Cllr Wendy Meikle, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, 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.

"Stockport Council needs 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.

"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 our vulnerable children and young people we care for the best chance to thrive, which for the vast majority of them is with local Stockport fostering families.”

‘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 sixtieth 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.

For more information about fostering with Stockport Council contact the council’s fostering team on 0161 474 3400 or visit the website www.stockport.gov.uk/fostering.