Published: Thursday, 9th October 2025
The release of ‘The Run’, the seventh fostering awareness film produced by award-winning producers ReelTwentyFive, has been announced an premieres at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham today.
What started as a small local project in the Midlands is now a major nationwide campaign involving more than 90 local authority fostering services, including Medway Council, project managed by CAN Digital. ‘The Run’ is set to be the most ambitious jointly funded fostering film project yet.
The film focuses on Tom, an 11-year-old boy, contrasting his need to run – away from danger, a chaotic home life, to get to school in time for breakfast club because he’s hungry – with running as a sport.
Despite the disadvantages Tom faces before being fostered – not even having PE kit for school – he’s good at running and the film climaxes with Tom taking part in an athletics tournament, running in a stadium, 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?
We always need more people
Cllr Adam Price, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “The message behind this project is very simple, but so important – we need foster carers and we need people to foster for Medway. This applies across the country, which is why this project has grown into a national campaign. ‘The Run’ is a brilliant, emotional film that none of us could have produced on our own, which is why this partnership is so important.
“There are already fantastic foster carers in Medway, and we are so incredibly grateful for everything they do – but as is the case nationally we always need more people to join us in supporting Medway’s children and young people.
“What films like this do is give us another great way to get the word out there to people – to show them what fostering is all about and how it can completely transform people’s lives. I would encourage you to watch it today, and if fostering is already something you have been thinking about, then reach out to our team to find out more.”
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.
Supportive, nurturing upbringing
Rachel Brown, the film’s project director, 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 children like Tom all over the country. Here in Medway, if you want to make a difference, talk to Medway Council’s fostering team today.