Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Croydon Council has joined forces with over 90 local authorities to produce ‘The Run,’ a film about foster care, in an effort to recruit more foster carers in the community.
Award-winning producers ReelTwentyFive worked on the project, which was overseen by CAN Digital.
On October 8, local foster carers and families were invited to see the short film at the David Lean theatre in Croydon.
Croydon Council stated in a press release:
“Croydon’s Fostering service is at the forefront of developing improved support for children and carers and is aiming to be the first choice for people wanting to embark on, or continue their fostering career looking after vulnerable children in the community.
This is achieved through innovative schemes such as its Horizons Fostering Hubs, local support groups, mentoring, recognition events, specialist training and regular reviews of the fostering allowances.”
The film’s project director, Rachel Brown, said in a statement:
“This whole project grew out of the constant struggle to recruit foster carers, when you have limited resources. By working as a group, which has grown from 12 to over 90 councils across the country, we have found a way to raise our voice and shout.”
She described fostering as a “national emergency” urging more Croydon families and individuals to take the initiative to foster.
“Children’s futures depend on having homes to give them a supportive, nurturing upbringing. The Run won’t change things on its own, but we hope that everyone who sees it will at least pause for thought, hopefully stepping forward to help our most vulnerable children and young people.”
In a press statement for Croydon Council, Jason Perry, the city’s executive mayor, also addressed residents directly, saying,
“This is a powerful film, and the message is loud and clear; there is an urgent need for more foster carers to step forward across the country.”
One of my top responsibilities is to support the growth, safety, and potential of the young people in Croydon, the borough with the highest under-19 population in London. As foster caregivers, we therefore need good people to join our team.
Short snippets from The Run will also be shown at the David Lean Cinema prior to movies in December and the coming year.
How do Croydon’s Horizons Hubs support foster families?
Croydon’s Horizons capitals support foster families by creating a community- suchlike terrain where foster caregivers, their own children, and the children they watch for can connect and partake guests . Each mecca is led by an educated foster guardian who provides emotional guidance, training, and hands- on leadership to ensure every family feels supported and valued.
The model grew from a successful airman that demonstrated the important impact of peer support within fostering communities. The action aims to offer a stable, trusted network suggesting an extended family, helping foster families feel less insulated and better equipped to watch for children with complex requirements.
Croydon’s fostering service is known for its innovative support programs similar to the Horizons Fostering capitals, which offer community- grounded peer support, mentoring, specialist training, and recognition events for foster caregivers.