We are supporting LGBT+ Fostering and Adoption Week (1-7 March 2021) and want to remind people that fostering and adoption are open to all.

LGBT+ Fostering and Adoption Week is a national initiative led by the charity New Family Social and aims to remind people that if you want to foster or adopt you can be from any background, gender or sexual orientation. The theme this year is ‘Build Your Family’ which aims to encourage more people to explore these parenting roles. Over the course of the week the campaign will explain different parts of the assessment and approval process, and share stories from same-sex couples.

In 2020, 1 in 6 adoptions in England were to LGBT+ individuals and couples, showing that sexual orientation plays no part in the decision on whether or not you will make a good parent.

There is no such thing as the ‘ideal’ or ‘perfect’ adoptive or fostering family, some of the most important qualities needed is to be a caring person and a good listener, have a genuine interest in a child or young person’s welfare and the time and space to look after them.

Councillor Cordelia Law, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Torbay Council, said; “As always we are happy to support New Family Social’s LGBT+ Fostering and Adopting Week. There are currently 318 looked after children in Torbay and 87 fostering households. We have had a lot of success recently in terms of attracting new foster carers and we’d love for more people to consider becoming both foster carers and adoptive parents”.

Councillor Swithin Long, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing, Torbay Council, said; “Over recent months a shortage of potential adopters in Torbay has made it difficult to give children permanent homes, and we know that children thrive when they remain in the area that they are already familiar with.

“You can foster or adopt if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, single, over 40, living with HIV or have a disability. Just like us, children seeking short or long-term homes come from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life.

“Perhaps the hardest thing to do when considering building your family through adoption or fostering is making that first call”.

Further information

More information on fostering in Torbay can be found on the Fostering page of the Torbay Council website.

If you are interested in learning more about adoption visit the Adopt South Website or call 0345 155 1076 or by emailing adoptsouthwest@devon.gov.uk

More information about the national campaign is on the New Family Social website, and can be followed on their Facebook page.