John Lewis' 'The Beginner' shines a light on the compassion of foster carers and adopters

We were very pleasantly surprised to see the hotly anticipated John Lewis Christmas Advert for 2022 today. 'The Beginner' sees the John Lewis brand use it's reach to send out a worthwhile message about the often overlooked size of the care system and we think does a great job highlighting both care-experienced young people, but all the unspoken efforts that foster carers and adopters who open their hearts and homes to them. 

It's great for such a mainstream cause to bring the spotlight onto this mostly unseen demographic in the UK.

The advert itself, if you haven't already seen, is definitely worth a watch before we spoil anything else!

The Beginner | John Lewis & Partners | Christmas Ad 2022

(And a version with Audio Description)
The Beginner | John Lewis & Partners | Christmas Ad 2022 | Audio Description

So the production shows a man in the the lead-up to Christmas, perhaps older than your typical skateboarder, as he struggles to learn and master skateboarding. As a viewer, you don't know what this is all for until the final few moments...

Ellie arrives, with her Social Worker, carrying her skateboard. The man, it turns out, is a foster carer, and was learning in order to bridge some common ground with Ellie as she arrives to help her to settle in. 'I... skate a bit too!'

We hope that the campaign may have inspired other budding foster carers who feel they may be able to give positive futures to other children in care. If you feel like this could be you, please do get in touch! We can walk you through what fostering a child with disabilities may entail, and take you on your first steps to a new and rewarding career and, more importantly, a life path which can impact so many others in such a special way.

Learn the first steps to becoming a foster carer...

Now aren't we feeling warm and festive! 🎅🤶🎄