Prestigious awards for Blackpool Council fostering film project
A Blackpool Council short film project encouraging people to become a foster carer received two prestigious awards recently.
Published by Blackpool Fostering on
The film, called 'Any of Us', is a result of the largest public sector fostering collaboration yet, with more than 80 participants including sponsorship from Blackpool Council.
The fostering film won the ‘Best Collaboration’ and ‘Best Creative Comms’ categories at the comms2point0 UnAwards, which recognises excellence in public sector communications at a ceremony held in Birmingham.
‘Any of Us’ explores the different attributes needed to be a foster carer, through the perspectives of prospective carers dealing with difficult scenarios.
Each in their own way demonstrates the caring instinct that is fundamental to being 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.
The film develops so that it becomes clear that one of these three people will become the foster carer to Chloe. The stories of the main characters are all interwoven with Chloe’s, as we see her journey into fostering.
It was produced by ReelTwentyFive and project managed by agency CAN Digital and fostering consultant Rachel Brown, formerly of Coventry City Council’s fostering team – who submitted the entry on behalf of all councils taking part and is the originator of the local authority fostering film concept.
Cllr Jim Hobson, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said:
“First and foremost, this award-winning project is about giving our fostering service a high-quality film that highlights the fact that anyone who cares has the potential to become a foster carer. Fostering recruitment is challenging and it’s important to make an emotional connection with potential foster carers through our marketing campaigns. We all need more people to step forward and become foster carers. That message is the same, from Blackpool to Brighton – every town, city and county – consider if you can offer a home to our most vulnerable children and young people. We really care about the work that we do. It’s all about giving children a chance to thrive and become the best person they can be.”
To find out more about fostering, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/Fostering or call 01253 420222.