A SHORT film is being launched to raise awareness of fostering and the need for foster carers.

With more than 75 children currently waiting for a family, East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is hoping the new film will encourage more people to consider joining the council’s fostering community.

Entitled ‘Childhood’, the film has been jointly funded through a ground-breaking national collaboration between 56 local authorities across England.

Coordinated by The Council Advertising Network and produced by Reel Twenty Five, it aims to find people who may be interested in working with their local authority to provide nurturing, positive homes for children and young people.

The film follows the journey of ‘Sophie’ and ‘Charlie’ from a very difficult home situation where their needs are not being met, to being nurtured and supported through foster care to attend school and enjoy their hobbies and interests.

As the local authority, East Sussex County Council are responsible for finding and matching a fostering placement for every single child in East Sussex who needs care, from newborn babies to teenagers.

Cllr Bob Bowdler, the lead member for children and families, said: “Currently there is a national crisis in foster care, and sadly there are more children needing placements than there are carers available.

“As this film shows, foster carers make a huge difference and change lives, providing children and young people with the positive examples of relationships and parenting that they will take forward in their adult lives.”

Help and advice is available to ESCC foster carers, day or night and every foster carer has a dedicated social worker who is locally based in East Sussex. In addition, a 24-hour telephone helpline is available, 7 days a week.

The council always matches children’s placements with its own foster carers first as this ensures better outcomes for the children and the fostering family.

Cllr Bowdler continues: “Sadly we always have children in need of care, and I hope this new film will encourage any residents who may have thought about fostering to contact the council and consider joining our wonderful fostering community.”

For more information on fostering with East Sussex County Council and to view the film ‘Childhood’ visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk/FosterForEastSussex