Urgent plea for more foster carers produced into new film

It premiered in Birmingham today

Author: Ella StirlingPublished 26th Sep 2023
Last updated 26th Sep 2023

A new film has premiered in Birmingham today, to encourage more people to foster.

‘Any Of Us’ will be the sixth film produced by a growing partnership of local councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering.

The national launch for ‘All Of Us’ was held at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham.

The Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, chair of Sandwell Children’s Trust said: “First and foremost, it’s about giving our fostering service a high-quality film that highlights the universal truth that anyone who cares has the potential to become a foster carer.

"As we all have our own area, where the children we look after are from and where we want to recruit foster carers from, it makes great business sense to collaborate to produce a film that communicates a universal message: We all need more good people to step forward and become foster carers."

Brian Mckinstrie , from Sandwell's Children's Trust, says : "We think it's probably the shortest film premier of the year. The film is only three minutes long, but the impact it could have on young children who need a second chance in life is incalculable.

"In that sense, we like to think it's the most important film premier of the year."

‘Any Of Us’ looks at three very different people who all show some of the attributes needed to be a foster carer in incidents from their daily lives.

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.

You can look at Sandwell's fostering website here.

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