Darran lands a starring role alongside actor Lennie James

The 21-year-old has been filmed alongside the LA-based star of the Walking Dead and Line of Duty, and their joint production has just been released in a bid to encourage more people to consider fostering for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

Darran is supported by Barnardo’s Swansea Bloom service which helps young people build their independence after leaving care. Lennie too was in care, and both had such positive experiences of foster families that they have joined forces to back the charity’s current campaign to recruit much-needed foster parents.

Lennie, who was born in Nottingham, is currently in Britain taking a break from his successful Hollywood career and, as an ambassador for Barnardo’s, agreed to front the campaign.

Darran had the chance to travel to London to film with Lennie for a series of campaign videos and immediately felt at home with the actor, discovering just how many childhood experiences they had shared.

He said: “Lennie was really cool and down to earth, and the conversation just flowed naturally. People who have been in care don’t often talk about their experience, so it was good to be able to talk freely to someone who had been through the same things as me, moving from a care home to a foster family and initially finding the change scary.”

Lennie made quite an impact on Darran, who went into care at the age of nine and spent time in a care home before moving in with a family for five years.

“Hearing about how Lennie had the courage to move to LA, even though he didn’t know if his acting job would last for long, really opened my eyes. It made me realise I don’t have to look to my past and I shouldn’t be afraid to take on new things in life and take a risk,” said Darran.

Actor Lennie moved into a children’s home when his mum died and was later placed with his foster mum Pam. “With her I found not just a stable place to call home but a place where I could belong. She opened not just her home but her heart to a kid who really needed it,” he said.

Darran also appreciated his foster parents Keith and Carol, who he described as “amazing”. He said: “Becoming part of a foster family helped me massively, even though it took me a couple of months to adjust because I had really enjoyed the care home.

“I arrived in the family not really knowing right from wrong and I had to get used to rules, but my foster parents involved me with everything, the family caravan holidays surrounded by children and grandchildren, and all the celebrations.

“Sadly, Keith died three and a half years after I arrived and it was very hard, I locked myself in my room and didn’t want to come out. Later, the family got a puppy, and I was put in charge of looking after it. It made me feel like I had a role, I was a cog in the family. I would take it on walks and train it and it made me feel better when days were bad.”

Darran has been keen to support Barnardo’s current campaign to recruit new foster parents. Latest Welsh Government figures reveal there were more than 7,000* children in care in Wales in March 2022, a number that has increased by almost 23% in the last decade. During that time the charity’s existing foster parents have got older, some have retired, and fewer younger people are coming forward to take their places.

The charity is hoping to bust some of the myths around fostering as many people think they are too old to apply, even though there is no upper age limit**. Others think they couldn’t afford to do it, not realising there are fostering allowances available, and some say they wouldn’t foster because they have their own children. Barnardo’s existing foster parents report that fostering is a positive experience for the whole family, including birth children.

Darran said: “Fostering is challenging, and I think you need a certain strength to cope with children who may arrive with problems, but if you can get through the difficult times, it can be so rewarding. You can have a positive impact just like my foster parents had on me.

“For me it was so important to wake up every day to the same faces, rather than wonder who was on duty in the care home that day. I didn’t have to explain to children in school why different people picked me up at the gates each day, that had been hard in the past.”

Darran had enjoyed his time in the care home and was initially worried about moving, but after a few weeks with his foster family he didn’t look back.

He said: “When I was with the family, we were always doing fun things. We all sat down to eat around the table together each day, that hadn’t been normal for me in the past.

“In the care home I would get my meal and take it back to my room to eat on my own. I never got to do my own washing, go shopping, or have someone spend time with me one to one, teaching me things like cooking. Those things are part of being a family and I’m really glad I got to experience family life.

“Now I have my own place, I’m really involved in Barnardo’s Swansea Bloom project for young people who have been in care and I want to do more to influence change in the care system.”

To find out more about fostering with Barnardo’s visit www.barnardos.org.uk/foster or call 0800 0277 280 Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm. Watch Darran and Lennie on YouTube https://bit.ly/3O6aqNl.

Notes to editors  

*Latest Welsh Government figures for 31 March, 2022 revealed there were 7,080 children looked after in Wales, which compares to 5,760 on 31 March 2013, an increase of 22.9%.

**A YouGov poll of 213 people conducted on behalf of Barnardo’s in Wales revealed that 46% of those surveyed who haven’t considered fostering before, believe they are too old to become a foster parent, when in fact there is no upper age limit to apply.

The poll also revealed that only 2% of people who are not currently approved foster parents would consider fostering in the next five years. A total of 14% said they didn’t think they could afford to foster or believed there is not sufficient financial support, unaware of the caring allowances paid to foster parents.

15% of people questioned in Wales said they hadn’t considered fostering because they have children of their own or would like them.

Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th November - 1st December 2023.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

About Barnardo’s Cymru:

Last year Barnardo’s Cymru provided essential support to around 14,000 children, young people, parents and carers through 61 services.  

 We provide vital support to the children and families who need us most, to help with a range of issues including mental health, child sexual abuse and children in care.  

 We listen to children and young people and work to bring about positive change so that they can have a brighter future. 

 Visit www.barnardos.org.uk to find out more.