Putting one foot in front of another…
Our new film ‘The Run’ sees Tom running from danger, hunger and chaos to a loving foster home where he’s able to grow and thrive.
‘The Run’ focuses on 11-year-old Tom, contrasting his need to run away from danger, a chaotic home life and to school in time for breakfast club because he’s hungry, with his need to run as a sport.
Despite the disadvantages Tom faced before being fostered, including not having a PE kit for school, he is good at running. The film climaxes with Tom taking part in a race in a stadium at an athletics tournament 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?
‘The Run’, the seventh fostering awareness film produced by award-winning producers ReelTwentyFive, premiered at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham on 9th October 2025.
What started as a small local annual project in the Midlands, is now a major nationwide campaign projected managed by CAN Digital and involving over 90 local authority fostering services, including Portsmouth City Council. ‘The Run’ is set to be the most ambitious jointly funded fostering film project yet.
Developed with the input of care experienced young adults and a Children in Care Council, ‘The Run’ contains emotional and dramatic moments, illustrating the impact that fostering can have on a child or young person’s life.
The film covers a number of significant themes including neglect, domestic violence, and county lines. It shows Tom eventually coming into the care of his local authority, and how his foster family – Daniel and Melissa with foster sister Paige and the pet dog – provide the stability and security he desperately needed, allowing him to grow and thrive.
The message of the film is very simple, but so important. We need more foster carers to care for children and young people like Tom who need loving homes in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
That message is at the core of the film project. 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.”
There are many types of fostering and everyone will be able to find one that’s the right fit for them. This could be a short or long-term arrangement for a child or siblings until they’re ready to live independently or be reunited with family, support for children with a disability or children seeking safety and asylum, Supported Lodgings to develop their independent living skills, a parent and baby placement, or respite care.
Anyone aged 21+ with a spare bedroom could foster with Foster Portsmouth regardless of their age, gender, faith, ethnicity, sexuality, marital or work status, or whether they rent or own their own home.
Our foster carers come from Portsmouth itself or the immediate surrounding areas, from Emsworth and Rowlands Castle to Gosport and Fareham, and the Isle of Wight and Hayling Island to Petersfield and Havant.
Our foster carers receive excellent, local training and 24/7 support, including through our mentoring scheme and the award winning Mockingbird Programme, and a competitive financial package made up of allowances, skill fees and benefits which reflects how highly we value our carers.
To enquire about fostering with Foster Portsmouth, or to arrange a 1:1 with one of our experienced team or existing foster carers, please contact us.
To watch our previous films visit: ‘Everything‘ and ‘Any of Us‘.
