The release of ‘The Run’, the seventh fostering awareness film produced by award-winning producers ReelTwentyFive, has been announced and will premiere at the Everyman cinema in Birmingham on 9 October 2025.

What started as a small local project in the Midlands is now a major nationwide campaign involving over 90 local authority fostering services, 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?

Cllr Wendy Griffith, Lead Councillor for Children at Reading Borough Council, said:

“The message of this project is very simple, but so important – we need foster carers.

“This sentiment applies across the country, which is why this project has grown into a national campaign. ‘The Run’ is a brilliant, emotional film none of us could have produced on our own, which is why this partnership is so effective.

“We have an engaging, high-quality film – which is great for all of us – but the message is loud and clear; there’s an urgent need for more foster carers to step forward across the country.  Here in Reading, we need good people to join us and make a real difference.”

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.”

Editors Notes:

  • ‘The Run’ will be premiered at Birmingham’s Everyman cinema on Thursday 9 October ahead of being made simultaneously available to view online by all local authority fostering services taking part in the project.
  • For media requests to cover the launch, or to request preview interviews with project directors Rachel Brown or John Cooper, contact Brian McKinstrie or John Cooper:
    E: brian_mckinstrie@sandwellchildrenstrust.org
    T: 07825 906 561
    E: john.cooper@can-digital.net
    T: 07815 068 936
  • You can find out more on Reading’s fostering website.
  • List of all local authority fostering services taking part in ‘The Run’ project:

Barnet
Birmingham Children’s Trust
Blackpool
Bolton (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Bracknell Forest
Bradford Children and Families Trust
Brent
Brighton & Hove
Bristol
Bromley
Buckinghamshire
Bury (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Calderdale
Cambridgeshire
Camden
Cheshire East
Cornwall
Coventry
Croydon
Cumberland (as part of Cumbria Fostering)
Derby City (as part of Foster For East Midlands)
Derbyshire (as part of Foster For East Midlands)
Doncaster
Dorset
Dudley
East Riding
East Sussex
Essex
Gateshead
Gloucestershire
Hammersmith & Fulham (as part of Fostering Shared Services)
Hampshire
Haringey
Herefordshire
Hounslow
Hull
Isle Of Wight
Kensington & Chelsea (as part of Fostering Shared Services)
Kent
Kingston (as part of Achieving For Children)
Lancashire
Leeds
Leicester City
Lincolnshire
Luton
Manchester (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Medway
Newcastle
Norfolk
North Lincolnshire
North Yorkshire
Northamptonshire Children’s Trust
Northumberland
Nottingham City (as part of Foster For East Midlands)
Nottinghamshire (as part of Foster For East Midlands)
Oldham (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Peterborough
Plymouth
Portsmouth
Reading
Richmond (as part of Achieving For Children)
Rochdale (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Rotherham
Rutland
Salford (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Sandwell Children’s Trust
Sefton
Sheffield
Shropshire
Solihull
South Gloucestershire
Southampton
Staffordshire
Stockport (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Stoke
Suffolk
Surrey
Sutton
Swindon
Tameside (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Telford & Wrekin
Thurrock
Trafford (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Walsall
Warwickshire
Westminster (as part of Fostering Shared Services)
Westmorland & Furness (as part of Cumbria Fostering)
West Sussex
Wigan (as part of Foster For Greater Manchester)
Wiltshire
Windsor & Maidenhead (as part of Achieving For Children)
Wokingham
Wolverhampton
Worcestershire
York