The City of Wolverhampton Council's fostering service, together with 15 neighbouring council fostering services, has been nominated for an award for its latest film.

There Was A Boy was launched earlier this year in Birmingham as part of the national Foster Care Fortnight campaign.

16 council fostering services - including Fostering for Wolverhampton - worked collaboratively as part of the West Midlands Fostering Consortium with film production company ReelTwentyFive to produce a short film telling the story of a teenage boy and how the crucial addition of a foster carer shaped his life for the better.

Working together in this innovative way resulted in each authority having a high quality short film, at a low cost to each. The film has been showcased and used to raise awareness for the need for more council foster carers across the region and has been viewed across hundreds of channels since its premiere in May, including a screening at a film festival in Hollywood.

There Was A Boy has now been shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Television Society (RTS) Awards, Midlands region, in the 'Short Form' category which includes short films, adverts, music videos and documentaries.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "This nomination is great news for Fostering for Wolverhampton.

"It really shows the benefit of taking a partnership approach and I am extremely proud of the team for this fantastic achievement.

"By drawing on a wider pool of skills and experience we have been able to produce a high quality film that outlines the need for more foster carers who would consider caring for teenagers.

"The film shows how foster care can impact on a boy's future and literally change a life and how rewarding that can be for the foster carer knowing that they have made a difference.

"There Was A Boy is an emotional, inspirational and important film and really captures the essence of fostering."

Winners of the awards will be announced on Tuesday 20 November at Birmingham Town Hall.

To find out more about fostering, please visit Type=links;Linkid=8022;Title=Fostering for Wolverhampton;Target=_blank; or call 01902 551133.

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  • released: Friday 19 October, 2018