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Helping more LGBTQ+ people adopt and foster
This week marks Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Adoption and Fostering Week, encouraging more queer adults to adopt and care for children.
Bristol City Council will be hosting an information evening at The Station with the council’s fostering team on Wednesday, March 6. CSC Adoption, Adoption West and Action for Children are also hosting an open evening at the Watershed on Thursday, March 7.
The week aims to encourage more LGBT people to consider adoption and fostering, and the events happening are a chance to meet informally with LGBT adopters, as well as experienced adoption and fostering workers who will be on hand to answer questions and provide further information.
is needed now More than ever
Helen Godwin, cabinet member for women, children & families says: “We know from experience that LGBT people often come to adoption and fostering with an open mind and real enthusiasm.
“Your age, gender, sexual orientation or marital status are not important – it’s what you can offer a child that counts.”
Two events are being held for LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week to find out more about helping children in care
Now in its eighth year, LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week is organised by New Family Social, a charity that supports LGBT adopters and foster carers across the UK.
According to the charity, record numbers of LGBT + individuals and couples now adopt and foster in the UK but with over 75,000 children in care in England alone, there is still a need for more LGBT people to consider adoption or fostering.
Mary, a foster carer with the council, says: “I can’t pretend I wasn’t nervous when applying to be a foster carer when I told my assessing social worker that I only date women and despite my name I identify as male, but she didn’t bat an eyelid.
“In short I can be me and look after kids in care the same as any other foster carer. I’m supported too; my social worker doesn’t care that I’m trans male and neither do the children – as long as there is pizza for tea.”
The event organised by the council will be held between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 6 at the Kitchen Café in The Station, and will give potential foster carers the chance to hear more about the process of becoming a carer, and to talk to local LGBT foster carers.
The LGBT Adoption Open Evening on Thursday, March 7 at the Watershed will be another chance to find out more about LGBT adoption, the local LGBT Adoption network and the children who need adoptive families, with a short presentation and Q&A session as well.
Both evenings will be a safe and welcoming space, with a chance to learn more about an important cause.
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