March 07, 2016
Today, Monday 7th March, marks the start of LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week 2016. Now in its fifth year, LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week is organised by New Family Social, a charity that supports LGBT adopters and foster carers across the UK.
This week, adoption agencies across the UK will be raising awareness of the need for more LGBT adopters. St. Francis’ Children’s Society (SFCS) is adding its voice to the call for more LGBT adopters to come forward.
In 2015, 1 in 12 adoptions in England were to same-sex couples, but thousands of children in the UK are still awaiting adoption.
Alison Miller, CEO of SFCS says: “At present there are around 3,000 vulnerable children in care who are awaiting adoption. Many of those children are sadly deemed ‘hard to place’; children over the age of four, sibling groups of two or more, children with disabilities or additional needs, and children from black and minority ethnic backgrounds all wait longer in the care system before families are found for them.
‘We know from experience that LGBT people often come to adoption and fostering with an open mind and real enthusiasm, as it’s often their first choice for growing their family. During LGBT Adoption & Fostering week, we’d particularly like to appeal to the LGBT community – could you provide love, security and permanency to a vulnerable child?”
Next week, SFCS are hosting two special ‘Big Adoption Day’ information evenings, in Milton Keynes and Peterborough, on Wednesday 16th March – and we warmly invite anyone who is considering adoption to join us. Full details can be found here.
Tor Docherty, New Family Social’s Chief Executive, said: “Record numbers of LGBT people now choose to adopt or foster. But YouGov polling shows many believe they’ll be discriminated against by agencies, with eight in ten lesbian, gay and bisexual people expecting to face barriers if they apply to become foster parents.
“We’re delighted that SFCS is trying to encourage more LGBT people to explore adoption.”
If you’d like to find out more about adopting a child through SFCS, please visit our Adoption Connections page. It’s packed with information and resources which will help you find out more. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us – we’ll be delighted to speak to you.
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