LGBT+ people are being encouraged to consider adoption during this; LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week.
Adoption@Heart, the Regional Adoption Agency for the Black Country, is backing the national campaign which returns for its 10th year and runs until Sunday (13 March). It calls for LGBT+ people to #BeTheChange and consider either adoption or fostering as a route to parenting.
LGBT+ adopters created the campaign to raise awareness and drive change, following statistics that one in 31 adoptions in England were to same sex couples – in 2021, the figure stood at one in six. New Family Social, which founded Adoption and Fostering Week, provides support to people from the LGBT+ community going through the adoption and fostering process. It works directly with its members and agencies to find families for children in care.
Mark Tobin, Head of Service at Adoption@Heart said: “We are proud to be members of New Family Social and to be supporting the 2022 campaign to encourage more LGBT+ people to come forward and find out about adoption.
“Adopters come from all walks of life and all applications are welcome and will be treated equally. Adoption@Heart will always encourage enquiries from LGBT+ people - if you're interested in finding out more or feel ready to start your adoption journey, call us today.”
Anyone can adopt, whether they are single, living together, married, a same sex couple, in employment or not working, or already have children or not. Potential adopters must legally be a UK resident and have been so for at least 12 months, as well as being aged 21 or over.
They should have a spare bedroom and be able to provide a stable home for a child until adulthood and beyond. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 gave unmarried couples, including same sex couples, the right to adopt.
It became law in December 2005. LGBT+ couples don’t need to be in a civil partnership or married to adopt and single adopters are also welcome, whatever their gender or sexual orientation. Adoption@Heart continue to run virtual information sessions every two weeks and are the perfect place for those who are ready to start their adoption journey or would like more information.