THE county council’s Fostering Service, together with 12 neighbouring fostering services, has been shortlisted in the 2017 UK Public Sector Communications Awards for the short film project ‘Giants’.
Over several months, Fostering Worcestershire worked in collaboration with the fostering services of 12 neighbouring local authorities to produce the film Giants.
The emotive and sensitive short film focuses on the story of Jack and Ellie; a brother and sister who want to stay together when they find themselves in foster care. The story highlights a key issue in fostering: that of working to keep brothers and sisters together and the need for more foster carers who would consider caring for siblings.
Giants has already been seen by more than 30,000 people across the Midlands and is shortlisted in the category of Partnership Engagement Initiative of the Year.
Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member with responsibility for children and families, said: “This is a very professional and moving film that really helps to get across the urgent need we have for people to step forward who have that extra space to help keep brothers and sisters together.
“The production of Giants was a massive undertaking, both in terms of complexity and cost and is a testament to the power of collaborative working between local authorities. This shortlisting is a credit to everybody involved and I look forward to the Awards and hope Giants can bring back the prize!”
An overarching theme of ‘Giants’ was devised for the film to blend the concept of ‘giants’, or people who help us in society such as foster carers, and also to highlight the strong bond and relationships that brothers and sisters have as they ‘look up’ and care for each other in life and become ‘giants’ to each other.
Working together in this innovative way has resulted in each authority having an extremely high quality production, at a low cost to each, which can be showcased and used to raise awareness for the need for more Local Authority foster carers across the regions.
The UK Public Sector Communication Awards & Conference will be on Wednesday 6 September at Montcalm, Marble Arch in London. For the full shortlist visit http://www.publicsectorcommunicationsawards.co.uk/Shortlist
For more information, and to watch the film, visit www.worcestershirefostering.co.uk/giants
