A HAMPSHIRE fostering campaign that surpassed expectations has been shortlisted for a regional award.

Hampshire County Council’s ‘Fostering Hampshire Children’ team has been announced as a finalist in the public sector campaign category by the Chartered Institute for Public Relations in its upcoming South of England and Channel Islands regions’ PRide Awards.

The ‘You Can Foster’ campaign, which ran last winter, achieved a 300 per cent increase in enquiries about fostering in Hampshire.

Hampshire County Council’s executive lead member for children’s services, Cllr Roz Chadd, said: “This is more well-deserved recognition for a fantastic campaign, which was also shortlisted for a national Purpose Award earlier this year.

"The campaign is just one example of the difference made by our talented and dedicated in-house team, who have all worked hard to develop the Fostering Hampshire Children identity to recruit more foster carers. Congratulations and the best of luck to the entire team for the forthcoming awards.”

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The county campaign was designed to raise awareness of fostering and generate interest from prospective foster carers during the winter period when enquiries typically dip. It was created entirely in-house by Hampshire County Council’s marketing team and targeted to a range of audiences through selected channels, including television, radio and social media.

Combining an informative approach with animation and storytelling, the campaign was considered a resounding success and made waves across both the public and charity sector.

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For more on fostering in Hampshire go to hants.gov.uk/fostering.

The public sector campaign is one of 18 categories in the PRide Awards, with the awards ceremony taking place online on October 13. The public relations (PR) focussed awards aim to celebrate the achievements of organisations and individuals within the PR and communications industry. The awards are split into nine regions across the UK.

For more on the Chartered Institute for Public Relations go to cipr.co.uk/.