Any Of Us…because it really can be

Any of us could foster. That’s the message of a powerful new fostering film – any of us can foster a child or young person, if you have the capacity to care.

‘Any Of Us’ has launched today, 26 September. It is the sixth film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering. The ‘Any Of Us’ project is  the largest public sector fostering film collaboration yet, with over 80 participants from Northumberland to Brighton and Liverpool to Kent. 

Councillor Marian James, Chair of Sutton Council’s People Committee, said: “This film highlights the fact that anyone who cares has the potential to become a foster carer. There are many different reasons why people start to foster but they all have one thing in common – wanting to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people in care.  

“We urgently need more foster carers in Sutton to provide children who can’t live with their own families a safe, secure and stable home for them to live, develop and thrive. 

“That message is the same, from London to the Lake District – every town, city and county – consider if you can offer a home to our most vulnerable children and young people.”  

‘Any Of Us’ looks at three different people who all show some of the attributes needed to be a foster carer – Ayesha going to the aid of a pedestrian after a minor road accident, Neil calming down an aggressive situation in a snooker club, and Marsha identifying a young person showing signs of distress and intervening with them at school. Different individuals in very different scenarios, but each in their own way showing the caring instinct that is fundamental to being a foster carer.

The film develops so that it becomes clear that one of these three everyday people will become the foster carer to Chloe. But which one of the three will be the one to make the difference?  The main character’s stories are all interwoven with Chloe’s, as we see her journey into fostering.

The film has been produced by Reel TwentyFive and project-managed by CAN Digital/Rachel Brown. Project Director, Rachel Brown explains the thinking behind the film: “Whilst there is always a core message about the difference fostering makes within our films, ‘Any Of Us’ has been more ambitious in telling three different stories from diverse foster carers, based around them sharing their experiences with people considering fostering. 

“Fostering directly with your council or children’s trust means that you can support your local community by working with a fostering service that is dedicated to supporting local children and young people who need a nurturing, safe fostering home.”

Sarah Thomas, chief executive of the Fostering Network said: “It’s fantastic to see the fostering services work together to amplify their message to recruit much-needed foster carers. There’s currently a shortage of 6,000 fostering households in England, so films like this have a vital role to play in encouraging more people to become foster carers.”

‘Any Of Us’ is  available to view at www.fosteringinsutton.gov.uk, or on the Sutton Council YouTube channel.