Joe Swash will draw on his mum's experiences for new documentary about teenagers in foster care
05.07.2023 - 17:15
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Joe Swash is stepping into the world of documentary making with a new film that focuses on the UK care system. Swash, known for his roles on EastEnders and his victories on I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here and Dancing On Ice, says he's been inspired by his own family's experiences to look into the subject.
The project is close to Swash's heart, as his mother has been involved in fostering for 15 years. In it, he will try to shed light on the experiences and challenges faced by teenagers in the care system.
Talking about his desire to report the issue, Swash said: "I've watched it and been involved with the process for years. My mum's last child, Daniel, he came to us when he was eight, and now he is 18 and in university. So I've always been mindful that although Dan has us, not everyone is so lucky. And what happens to them?"
The documentary aims to shed light on the experiences and challenges faced by teenagers in the care system. Swash explained: "The idea is to show what growing up as a teenager in care is like and highlight the challenges these teenagers face, where the system is going wrong and where it could be made better."
Swash is keen to draw attention to the often-overlooked demographic of teenagers in care. He said: "When their minds go to the care system, they immediately think of young kids, toddlers, and babies. But there are kids of all ages in care that need to be looked at; they've all got their own special needs."
"At 18 to 21, I wasn't a fully grown adult. I couldn't handle responsibilities. I needed my mum and my extended family there to help me. So, you can only imagine what these kids are going through when they're forced into the world at 18 [after time in care]."
In addition to spending time