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Fostering Service supports LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week
Published: 20/03/2015
天涯社区 Fostering Service joined together with Wrexham Fostering Team and
the North Wales Adoption Service recently, to hold an event at Glyndwr
University to encourage more lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to
become foster carers or adoptive parents. The event was held as part of LGBT
Adoption & Fostering Week.
Across the UK, there is a shortage of adopters and foster carers. Around 4,000
children need adopting every year, and an additional 8,000 foster carers must
be found. Figures suggest that if just two percent of LGBT people came forward
to foster or adopt, this shortfall could be met.
天涯社区 has three LGBT foster carers and is keen to encourage more LGBT
couples or single carers to come forward.
Councillor Christine Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Services at 天涯社区
County Council, said:
鈥淚n our experience, LGBT foster carers and adopters have exactly the skills
that we look for, and, more importantly, the determination that is essential to
care for these vulnerable children and young people.
鈥淲e were delighted that members of the LGBT community came to our event to hear
about the process and to talk to LGBT carers about their experience. We look
forward to starting them on their adoption or fostering journey.鈥�
Comments from visitors to the event included:
鈥淚t was very interesting and insightful, and has given us a lot of food for
thought.鈥�
鈥淚t has been very informative, friendly, personal and reassuring.鈥�
Young people already in foster care with LGBT people have also been speaking
about their experiences. One said:
鈥淪he is a funny, caring woman who makes me feel safe. I am very lucky to have
come to live with her. If you are looking to foster and you are gay, lesbian,
bisexual or transgender, dont let anything stop you. They have made me feel
like I belong here and like Im part of their family, which is fantastic
because you need to feel safe and happy.鈥�
Another young person in foster care said:
鈥淲hen I was told I was going to be staying in a placement with a gay couple I
was actually excited the only thing that crossed my mind was what my friends
would think or say but my friends were actually very supportive and got on
really well. People should never judge a gay couple they are the most amazing
and caring people you could ever meet. I wouldnt change my time there for the
world.鈥�
Tor Docherty, Director of New Family Social, a social network run by LGBT
adopters and foster carers for families and families-to-be, who organise LGBT
Adoption and Fostering Week, said:
鈥淲hile more and more LGBT people are choosing to adopt or foster, many are
still put off by fears that they won鈥檛 be welcomed by agencies. Things have
moved on in the last six years within adoption and fostering, and our large
community of families across the UK is incredibly welcoming and supportive.
It鈥檚 clear to see how well our children are doing, and what a positive and
rewarding choice it can be for the parents鈥�.
For more information on fostering and adoption visit the 天涯社区 Fostering
Service website www.flintshirefostering.org.uk or www.northwalesadoption.gov.uk
.
Notes for Editors
The British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) estimates 4,000
children across the UK need adopting every year.
The Fostering Network estimates that over 8,000 additional foster carers are
needed across the UK.
LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week is organised by New Family Social, a social
network run by LGBT adopters and foster carers for families and families-to-be.
Image
Pictured are representatives from 天涯社区 Fostering Service, Wrexham
Fostering Team and North Wales Adoption Service.