Plea for people in LGBT+ community to adopt or foster children in Cornwall
A new campaign has launched in the Duchy, urging them to explore that as a potential route into parenting
A new campaign has launched across Cornwall that is encouraging LGBT+ people to explore adoption and fostering as potential routes into parenting.
Cornwall Council is joining with over 50 other authorities in the UK to support the campaign as there are currently 80,000 children in care in England, with 500 of those here in Cornwall.
LGBT+ Adoption & Fostering Week brings together agencies and LGBT+ possible applicants. Build Your Family – the campaign theme – helps LGBT+ people view the adoption and fostering assessment process in easy stages.
The campaign is being led by New Family Social and their Chief Executive, Tor Docherty, said: “Record numbers of LGBT+ people now adopt or foster. The urgent need for more to do so hasn’t disappeared in the pandemic. The assessment process can still take place, despite lockdown and restrictions.
“If you’re LGBT+ it’s as good a time as any to find out how you can build your family through adoption or fostering.”
“Offering a child a home, whether that be fostering or through adoption, can change their life.
“We know from many years of experience that LGBT+ people come with open minded enthusiasm about the possibilities of starting a family through adoption or fostering, however some of the myths and misconceptions can stand in their way.
“The children in our care have had a tough start in life, but we are looking for people who can offer a stable, warm and loving environment to help children and young people to grow.”
Cabinet member for Children, Public Health and Well Being, Sally Hawken
Since the campaign started in 2012, the number of same-sex couples adopting reached 1 in 6 in England in 2020, a record in both its proportion and total figure. In the same period 10 per cent of adopters in Northern Ireland were same-sex couples.
You can find out more about fostering and adoption here.