Watch Joe Swash’s ‘Teens in Care’ Documentary and His Message to West Sussex
The BBC One documentary, Teens in Care, hosted by the well-known TV personality Joe Swash, is set to air on 11 July at 9pm. This remarkable documentary shines a light on the lives of teenagers in care, including a young person from West Sussex.
Having grown up in a fostering family, Joe Swash offers a unique perspective on the challenges faced by young people in care. Joe walks alongside a number of individuals, delving into their daily experiences, aspirations, and highlighting the significant role that Foster Carers can play in shaping their lives.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Joe Swash for using his genuine passion and platform to draw attention to the urgent need for more Foster Carers, particularly those aged 16+. We urge you to tune in to witness the moving stories shared in Teens in Care.
Joe Swash’s Personal Motivation for Making the Documentary:
Joe Swash’s connection to the care system runs deep. He explains, “This is a subject very close to my heart. My mum has been fostering for about 15 years. We, as a family, have been involved with the care system and have witnessed both its positive and negative sides. It has been a significant part of my life growing up.”
Joe also reflects on his personal experiences, stating, “Daniel, one of the kids my mum fostered, is at an age when young people leave the care system, and my mum has just helped him get into university. He’s thriving, but I’m aware that not all teenagers in care have the same positive experience and opportunities. So this documentary felt like a perfect fit. I don’t know the ins and outs of the system, and I think it’s important to shine a light on it and for viewers to find out more. These youngsters go through so much while in the system and from what I saw, don’t always get support.”
He shares the personal anxieties he faced during his childhood, stating, “I lost my dad when I was young. I always used to worry about my mum passing away and becoming an orphan. It was a real anxiety for me growing up. With this in mind, I still can’t begin to imagine how these kids must feel and what they go through. I thought it was important to give them a voice.”
Joe Swash’s Message to the West Sussex Community
Joe Swash has recorded a special message for our West Sussex community. Watch what he has to say…
In West Sussex, we currently care for 596 children aged between 11-17, many of whom are seeking a loving home. There’s a pressing need for more caring people to open their hearts and homes to vulnerable local children. We echo Joe’s sentiment and invite anyone who feels they can make a difference to a local child’s life to explore how they can become a Foster Carer.
There are several ways you can find out whether fostering is right for you, including;
- Book onto an information session – this is the perfect opportunity for you to find out what it’s like to foster, hear from local Foster Carers and the fostering team and ask any questions you may have – all from the comfort of your own home.
- Fill in our enquiry form – send us a message with your contact details and one of our friendly team will be in touch.
- Give us a call – our friendly recruitment team are always at the other end of the phone ready to answer your queries and talk you through the process.
Regardless of whether you’ve just started considering fostering, or if you’re ready to take the next step by starting the process, we’d love to hear from you.
If you missed the documentary, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer here.
