Watch ‘The Run’: A Powerful New Film Championing Foster Care

Dorset Council is proud to support the release of The Run, the seventh fostering awareness film by award-winning producers ReelTwentyFive.

Watch the heartfelt, two-minute fostering film here.

What started as a small local project in the Midlands is now a major nationwide campaign involving over 90 local authority fostering services, project managed by CAN Digital. ‘The Run’ is set to be the most ambitious jointly funded fostering film project yet.  

The film focuses on Tom, an 11-year-old boy, contrasting his need to run - away from danger, a chaotic home life, to get to school in time for breakfast club because he’s hungry - with running as a sport. 

Despite the disadvantages Tom faces before being fostered, he’s good at running and the film climaxes with Tom taking part in an athletics tournament, running in a stadium, with the support of his new foster family.   

It’s Tom’s chance to shine. Can Tom win his race?  On the track and in his life?   

Cllr Clare Sutton, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Skills, said; 

“The message of this project is very simple, but so important – we need foster carers, and we need people to foster for Dorset Council to help us keep children and young people in the county they call home. 

This sentiment applies across the country, which is why this project has grown into a national campaign. ‘The Run’ is a brilliant, emotional film which we could not have produced on our own, which is why this partnership is so important. 

We have an engaging, high-quality film – which is great for all of us – but the message is loud and clear; there’s an urgent need for more foster carers to step forward across the country. Here in Dorset, we need more people and families to open their homes to children and young people in care, to help keep them close to the people and places that are important to them. If you are interested in fostering, now is the time to get in touch and learn more.” 

Local authority fostering services are under pressure like never before as more children need a safe, stable home. This is combined with increased competition from independent fostering agencies to recruit foster carers. 

The film’s project director Rachel Brown explains; 

“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’ve found a way to raise our voice and shout. 

I say shout quite deliberately - because this is a national emergency. Make no mistake, 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.”  

Get in touch with Dorset Council’s fostering service to learn more about fostering and the different options available. Training, support and weekly payments are available to all Dorset Council foster carers and the fostering service is readily available for an informal, friendly chat. 

Email: fosteringenquiries@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk  
Visit www.fosterwithdorsetcouncil.gov.uk