The 2024 awareness week, led by UK charity New Family Social, is encouraging more LGBTQ+ people to consider adoption as a route to parenting, and highlighting the need for more adopters to come forward that share the same culture and heritage of vulnerable children.
In England in 2023 there were 83,840 looked after children. 3 in 10 of these children – 29% - were from ethnic groups. While a 6th of adoptions in England in 2023 were to same gender couples, the need for more adoption applicants is both great and urgent.
Simon Green, Head of Service at Adoption@Heart, said: “We are proud to be members of New Family Social and to be supporting the 2024 campaign to encourage more LGBTQ+ people, particularly black prospective adopters, to come forward and find out more about adoption.
“Adoption@Heart will always encourage enquiries from LGBTQ+ people and we always need more adopters to come forward that can meet the cultural needs of the children in need of permanent homes.
“If you're interested in finding out more or feel ready to start your adoption journey, get in touch with us today. The team at Adoption@Heart will give you a very warm welcome and all the information you need.”
Tor Docherty, New Family Social Chief Executive said: “LGBTQ+ potential applicants from minoritised ethnic groups should count themselves in as potential adopters or foster carers, not rule themselves out. In an ideal world every looked after child would find a placement with a family that shared their culture and heritage. Where this can’t happen, agencies must work hard to help LGBTQ+ applicants to understand how to meet their child’s culture and heritage needs.”
Many people can adopt, whether they are single, living together, married, LGBTQ+, 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. There is no upper age limit.
Adoption@Heart, which works in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council, Dudley Council, Sandwell Children’s Trust, and Walsall Council, holds regular information events both online and in person – these are the perfect place for those who are ready to start their adoption journey or would like more information.
For future event dates and details on how to book your place via Eventbrite, please visit Adoption@Heart Events.
For more information on LGBTQ+ adoption, visit How to Adopt LGBTQ+, call 01902 55 3818 or email info@adoptionatheart.org.uk.
If you’re LGBTQ+ in the UK and want to find out more you can register for a free webinar on 6 March, which will feature the stories of LGBTQ+ adopters and foster carers.
