Striking a Caring Chord: Brad Kella Urges More People to Foster in New Film for Foster Care Fortnight

A powerful new video featuring The Piano 2024 winner Brad Kella has been released as part of a national campaign by the Fairer Fostering Partnership – a group of charitable and not-for-profit fostering organisations – to highlight the urgent need for more foster carers across the UK.

As a proud member of the partnership we’re delighted to share the story of Brad, a self-taught pianist who was placed in foster care at the age of seven. Now, through this film, he’s telling his story to help others understand just how life-changing foster care can be.

“If I didn’t have my foster parents in my life, it would have been so easy for me to go down the wrong path,” Brad said. “I would not be where I am today.

“The impact that fostering’s had on my life – I can’t even put it into words. If you’re out there thinking about fostering a child, don’t think about it – just do it. Because you’re not just making an impact for that child, you’re making a massive impact for the society around you.”

The campaign launches during Foster Care Fortnight (12–25 May 2025), as the UK foster care system faces unprecedented pressure. There are now 104,358 children in care away from home, with 68,000 living with around 52,000 foster families – two-thirds of all children in care. But the number of carers is not keeping pace with growing need.

A child comes into care every 20 minutes – and without enough foster carers children are often placed far from school, friends and community.

The video is a powerful reminder of the difference fostering can make – not just to one child, but to families, communities, and wider society.

Watch Brad’s inspiring story below. If you think you have what it takes to become a foster carer and inspire a child like brad, give us a call on 0800 292 2003 or complete our online enquiry form here