“No barriers, at all” for LGBT+ adoption and fostering, couples say

Same-sex couples that have been helped by Lancashire County Council and Adoption Lancashire and Blackpool to foster and adopt are supporting a campaign to encourage more people from the LGBT+ community to come forward.

Foster carer Dianne, and her partner Bev, have fostered for over eight years with the county council, and their only regret is that they didn’t do it sooner.

Having already fostered nine children ranging in age from a new-born baby to an 18-year-old, Dianne and Bev said in their video: “Just do it. We have loved every minute of it. All you need is a stable, loving home, patience, a sense of humour, and understanding.”

Diane and Bev

Now in its ninth year, LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week takes place from today, (Monday 1 March), and encourages more lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender+ people to consider adoption and fostering.

Adopters, Louise and Clare, said: “Adoption has given us the family that we always dreamed of.

“We know that we made the right choice with Adoption Lancashire and Blackpool, and we have never looked back, so much so, that we are even considering doing this again.

“There are no barriers to adoption, at all.”

Claire and Louise

This year’s campaign is called Build Your Family. It will focus on myth busting and answering common questions that are raised by the LGBT+ community when considering fostering or building their family through adoption.

In the two videos that have been filmed by the couples themselves to support the campaign, they share their experiences, and talk about the ongoing support that is available.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: “We have many same-sex couples, or single people from the LGBT+ community in Lancashire and Blackpool who are providing stable and loving homes for children and young people who cannot live with their own families.

“We always need more foster carers and adoptive parents from all walks of life, and I want to remind people that we welcome applications from people of all ages, sexuality, gender, single, married, cohabiting, in same-sex relationships, with or without their own children, working or not.”

Videos that have been filmed by foster carers and adopters, and more information, are available at lancashire.gov.uk/fostering and adoptionlancashireblackpool.org.uk. The videos will also be posted on social media.

An online information event will be held on Thursday, 4 March, from 3pm – 5pm. Staff will be available from both the adoption and fostering recruitment teams, as well as adopters and foster carers. At the event, there will be a brief talk to outline the process, which will be followed by a Q and A session. To find out more about fostering in Lancashire, please get in touch on 0300 123 6723. To find out more about adoption in Lancashire, please get in touch on 0300 123 6727.

In Cumbria, the Council is hosting a fostering information event, An Audience with an LGBT Foster Carer, which takes place on Zoom on Thursday 4th March from 6pm, and offers those thinking about fostering the opportunity to hear from an experienced foster carer. For further information or to register your interest online please visit cumbria.gov.uk/fostering or call on 0303 333 1216.