LGBT+ people encouraged to adopt

Charity advocate for vulnerable children

A South Western adoption charity is encouraging the LGBT+ across the community to explore adoption as a potential parenting route and adopt vulnerable children waiting for their ‘forever’ families.

With over 80,000 children in care in 2021 in England alone, local adoption agencies and potential new LGBT+ adoptive families are being brought together. The campaign is led by LGBT+ focused agency New Family Social and Devon based adoption charity Families for Children. They ask LGBT+ people to think about the range of vulnerable children they could parent or care for, and will focus on sharing stories from LGBT+ adopters and foster carers already caring for some of the country’s most vulnerable children.

The adoption charity has been encouraging LGBT+ people to adopt over the last year, with 40% of approved adopters from the LGBT+ community. They want to continue their support of LGBT+ people in their decision to build a family through adoption.

Ruth Marriott, families for children CEO, says, ‘We continue to see a rise in the number of LGBT+ individuals making enquiries about adopting with us. Being part of the LGBT+ community is not a barrier to being considered as an adopter. At families for children, we have a wealth of experience in assessing LGBT+ adopters and recognise the strengths and skills you bring in meeting the needs of children waiting for families.’

Martin and Rich adopted an older child of five years old through families for children and said:‘ The moment we saw our son, he ran over to us and said our names, and it was just amazing, and it was everything we could have wanted. It was emotional, but those memories will stay with us forever. It was scary, very scary, but incredible. I can best describe adoption for us as the best rollercoaster ride you have ever been on, lots of ups and downs, but we have loved every minute of it.’

Martin and Rich

Tor Docherty, new family social chief executive, said: ‘The need for more LGBT+ people to consider adoption or fostering is as great as ever, despite ten years of our campaign. When it started, few agencies could answer the question ‘How many LGBT+ applicants do you have?’ Now it’s the bare minimum of information agencies should have when speaking to potential applicants. If you’re LGBT+, you can find agencies that want to hear from you and will offer you dedicated support.’

Families for children are the alternative to regional adoption agencies and local authorities across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset. They say a warm welcome awaits those considering adoption from a team of experienced social workers and family support workers.

For more details on LGBT+ adoption click here