A new virtual reality (VR) film created by the Cornerstone Partnership has been produced to give adopters and foster carers the chance to experience the realities of being a child in care.
One of the short films is from the viewpoint of a baby in the womb and then of a toddler, users are placed in the role of a victim of neglect and abuse, and see the impact of these experiences on the brain and how they can influence behaviour later in life. They also observe a conversation between a child and a foster carer and different ways to approach challenging behaviour.
The second film aims to encourage people to consider becoming a foster carer and to help them move more quickly through the process by showing children in several scenarios of harm and neglect, and the difference fostering can make.
Fosterline England Manager, Steve Stockley said, “I welcome this new initiative to encourage more people to come forward to foster. There are currently over 70,000 children in care which has continued to rise year on year but in contrast, there has been a decline in the number of foster carer applications. There is a particular need for more foster carers to support for sibling groups, teenagers, children from black and minority ethnic groups, children with disabilities and asylum seeking children.”
Anyone thinking of fostering can have their questions answered in confidence by a qualified fostering advisor on 0800 040 7675, weekdays 9.00am to 5.00pm.
For more information about the new virtual reality films, click here.