A FILM exploring fostering has been commended with multiple prestigious award wins, following financial backing from Worcestershire County Council.
Any of Us, the powerful short film to encourage people from all backgrounds to consider becoming foster carers for their local authority has won two accolades at the ‘comms2point0 UnAwards’ which recognises excellence in public sector communications.
At a ceremony held in Birmingham, Any of Us won the “Best Collaboration” and “Best Creative Comms” categories after being nominated in five categories.
The short film explores the different attributes needed to be a foster carers, through the perspectives of prospective carers dealing with difficult scenarios.
Each one shows the caring instinct fundamental to being a foster carer.
The film project is a collaboration involving more than 80 council fostering teams from across the UK who have now contributed to the production, administration and launch costs.
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.
The UnAwards judging panel said: “This is exactly the kind of campaign the public sector needs right now. It combined precious resources to secure a better chance of success for everyone who collaborated – boosted by smart targeting and a beautifully shot video.
“It just goes to show what can be achieved through our industry working together to address common challenges.”
In just the first month of the film being available, participating councils had 249 enquiries from potential new foster carers that can be attributed to views.
Calculated from average enquiry-to-approval statistics (based on monthly benchmarking data gathered from council fostering teams across the UK), these enquiries could result in 21 new foster carers over the next 12 months, saving the UK’s council fostering community £394,000 on placement fees with Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs).
Councillor Stephen Mackay, cabinet member for children and families at Worcestershire County Council, 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.
“It makes great business sense to collaborate with other council fostering teams to produce a film that communicates a universal message: We all need more people to step forward and become foster carers.
“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.
“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.”
