In an innovative national collaboration, Fostering Hampshire Children, part of Hampshire County Council, has joined forces with 80 other Local Authorities across the country to jointly fund the creation of a short film to raise awareness of fostering.
Entitled ‘Any of Us’, the film explores the journey of three ordinary people as they discover the path to fostering. Each of the potential foster carers encounters a situation – a moment – that leads them to consider the support they could offer a child in need. These individuals differ in age, gender, ethnicity, and cultural background, but they each demonstrate the same qualities: compassion, empathy and the kindness. In each of the situations encountered, the individuals could have walked past and gone on with their day; but these individuals chose to stop and offer support to others in a time of need.
The film will also explore the story of ‘Chloe’, a 13-year-old child who lives in a chaotic home with her parents, where she is regularly exposed to arguments and unsafe situations. With the help of a social worker, Chloe packs a bag and moves in with a foster carer.
Whilst living with the foster carer, Chloe experiences a safe and stable home environment, with appropriate boundaries and kindness. She is accepted into the family for who she is and settles into a routine with her foster carer. They cook meals together, complete household chores, and Chloe is supported with her schoolwork. It’s the everyday things that can make all the difference to a child.
In Hampshire, a child comes into care in need of a foster carer every 12 hours. While Hampshire County Council has been working hard to reduce the number of children coming into care, the gap between the number of children needing a loving home and the number of foster carers available in Hampshire continues to widen.
In response and to close the gap, Fostering Hampshire Children, part of Hampshire County Council, launched a campaign dedicated to finding 150 new foster homes across the county by the end of 2023. Entitled #OpenYourDoor, the fostering service is asking Hampshire residents to open their door to a child in care.
The campaign highlights the accessibility of fostering and how any of us could become a foster carer:
- there are different types of fostering arrangements, from full-time to more flexible options that fit around home and work-life commitments
- background, ethnicity, religion relationship status or sexuality are no barrier
- there is no upper age limit – applications are welcome from anyone 21 years old and over
- you don’t need to own your home – but you do need a spare room
Fostering Hampshire Children is looking for ordinary people who want to contribute to improving the outcomes for children in care, support disadvantaged children achieve their full potential, and make positive changes within communities across the county.
Fostering Hampshire Children is an OFSTED-outstanding Local Authority offering excellent training, fantastic support and valuable allowances. Through the Hampshire Hive communities, buddy systems and closes support groups, foster carers are supported throughout their fostering journey. Our competitive allowances for each child or young person in foster care is available to cover the day-to-day costs of caring for a child.
Fostering isn’t always easy; there are challenges to overcome and difficult days, but it’s also a chance to build new relationships, learn about other cultures and offer stability to a young person at the time it’s needed most.
Could you #OpenYourDoor to fostering and offer stability and compassion to a child in their time of need? It could be any of us. If you’re aged 21 or over and have a spare room, visit the Fostering Hampshire Children website and download an information pack today, or call a member of the fostering team for a chat on: 01489 587052.