19/2/2009 - Foster carer recruitment is the goal

A group of looked after children and their foster carers have teamed up with Carlisle United to help recruit new carers. 

At United's home game against Stockport County this Saturday (21st February) youngsters and foster carers will be talking to supporters about their attitudes to foster care and mingling with the Brunton Park crowd to watch the game - illustrating that any face in the crowd could be a fostered child or carer.

The event will be filmed by South Cumbrian based arts company Whitewood and Fleming, who along with the young people and carers are producing a DVD to promote the recruitment of foster carers in the county.

The DVD forms part of an innovative year-long project, which has already seen the young people receive national acclaim when they performed their own professionally recorded song Every Dream Matters in front of several hundred senior staff at the Department for Children, Schools and Familes in central London, as well as ministers including Secretary of State Ed Balls.

The looked after youngsters are under the supervision of Cumbria County Council's Children's Services.

Helen Smith, Head of Service, Child and Family Care, said:

"We know that our looked after children have better outcomes if they are able to live in a stable family environment, and this is why it is crucial that we recruit more foster carers throughout Cumbria.

Tim Fleming, Artistic Director, Whitewood and Fleming, said:

"The foster care film will be a very powerful one. We already have some wonderful and moving interviews recorded and we hope that more people will consider choosing the profession once they see the film. We are grateful to Carlisle Utd for giving us this great opportunity to shoot on a match day and know that the footage we take will be an essential part of the film."

John Nixon, Managing Director, Carlisle United, said:

"We think it's fantastic that we have been able to help such a good cause in this way.

Hopefully our participation will help to raise awareness around the County and we can, in some small way, contribute to making life just that little bit happier for a number of wonderful children."

ENDS