Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people are being encouraged to help the city’s children in care as part of LGBT Fostering and Adoption Week.
Nottingham City Council is looking for more same sex couples and single people to come forward as adopters and foster carers to raise awareness for their community.
More and more and children in need of a home are being adopted by LGBT families, with 6.7 per cent of adopters in the UK in 2014 being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Between April and December last year the number of children with same sex adopters in Nottingham was double the national figure, with 12 per cent going to LGBT family homes.
The council’s campaign to raise awareness for LGBT adoption and fostering this year will be running from March 2-8, organised by UK charity New Family Social.
Darren Fishwick, regional co-ordinator for New Family Social, supports the council’s recruitment efforts.
Children used to be one of the main things LGBT people missed out on- now it can be a reality.
“One of the biggest growths in adoption and fostering today is in LGBT applicants – the LGBT week is an important week, the fact that we have it shows how things have progressed.”
Nottingham City Council’s fostering and adoption team holds a monthly information event. The next one is on Wednesday March 11 from 7- 9pm at Loxley House in Station Street in Nottingham and is open to anyone interested in finding out more about fostering or adoption.
For one Nottingham couple, raising awareness for LGBT fostering and adoption has given them the chance to start their own family.
Leigh and and his partner Neil attended their first open evening in January 2014 and said it was “relaxed, friendly and very informative.”
They said:
We were worried about being a same sex couple and how we would be treated.
“We really didn’t need to worry as everyone was lovely.
“If you are thinking about adoption, we would say go for it- we are soon to be a family with a bright and exciting future and a new chapter in our lives.”
The open evenings will also offer an opportunity to hear a local LGBT adoptive and foster parent talk about their own experiences and give information on how to start the process.
Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for Children’s Services said: “Many of our children have had a very difficult start to life, and we have seen them thrive with their new parents from the LGBT community.
We need people with stability, love and resourcefulness who can help a child with whatever needs they may have.
Around 1,240 children have been adopted by same sex couples in England since 2007, according to New Family Social, an increase of four per cent in the last seven years.
No children have been adopted by LGBT families in Northern Ireland as of yet.
Cllr Mellen hopes the LGBT Fostering and Adoption Week will inspire more people to give a vulnerable child or children a “safe, secure and loving home.”
If you would like to read more real life adoption and fostering stories click here.
