LGBTQ+ Adults Urged to Consider Fostering During PRIDE Month

Adults and couples from the LGBTQ+ community are being encouraged to consider fostering for the first time as part of a campaign during PRIDE month to highlight the life-changing benefits they can bring.

North West and Midlands-based Family Care Group, which has been providing vital fostering care and support for young people since 1988, is keen to get more LGBTQ+ people in the region to think about becoming a foster carer and making that all-important difference to a young person's life

With PRIDE month running throughout June, Family Care is urging more local people from the LGBTQ+ community to find out more about fostering and adopting, particularly if they may have been discouraged from considering it in the past.

Currently, the Fostering Network estimates that around 8,600 more foster families are needed in the UK in the next 12 months, and of those already providing foster care to young people, it is estimated that as few as 7 per cent of carers may identify as LGBTQ+.

Meet the Chapmans

Kimberly and Lucy Chapman, who have fostered 15 children during the past 9 years, believe that stigmas and stereotyping may discourage some gay people or couples from enquiring about fostering, mainly through fear of rejection.

Kimberly said: "A lot of LGBTQ adults experience prejudice and worry about acceptance in everyday life, and this includes worrying that you might be judged in some way for being gay and wanting to become a foster carer.

"We did experience these same apprehensions about fostering ourselves. I think there is a myth that because you are gay, as in our case, then you have almost given up your rights to have children, as you can't naturally conceive and that you will be judged in that way."

Kimberley says that her parents' decision to start fostering when she was 22 was a clear inspiration for her to consider fostering herself.

She says: "My parents taking that step gave me the confidence to believe that fostering a child is something I could do as well, that there really were no barriers to stop me from doing this"

Her partner, Lucy, adds, "As a gay woman, I was always planning to look into adoption. However, upon meeting Kimberly and with her already being a foster carer, it immediately attracted me to the idea of fostering and being able to look after multiple children."

Both Kimberly and Lucy believe that having an LGBTQ+ background can actually be an asset in being a foster carer, allowing them to identify with the rejection or trauma that some children may have experienced early in life.

Kimberly adds, "A lot of LGBTQ members may have experienced rejection from those closest to them at some point, even homelessness for a period. This could be so helpful to a lot of children in the care system who have experienced similar trauma and feelings in their lives.

Hannah Makin, Registered Manager for Fostering with Family Care Group, said:

"One of the issues we have come across with attracting more foster carers from the LGBTQ+ community is that some people fear that they will be rejected as they will be deemed unsuitable in some way. This could not be further from the truth, and we are really keen to reassure people from this background that they can be fantastic foster carers providing exactly the support, love and security that a child needs. We would strongly encourage any LGBTQ+ adults or couples to think seriously about fostering. It can make a huge difference to a child's life and be incredibly rewarding for you."

Kimberly adds:

"The fostering community in our experience is an open and accepting one, just be yourself and embrace being a parent. Love openly and honestly, just as you have done to become a member of the LGBTQ community and the rewards will be great."

Help us make a life-changing difference

Ready to explore a rewarding path this Pride Month? If you are interested in learning more about fostering, we encourage you to get in touch with us today.

This year, give back and transform lives-starting with fostering.

For more information, visit our FAQs page, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or give us a call today. Let's make 2025 a year to remember!

If you want to give something back and would like to discuss a career in fostering, please get in touch today.

Read more about our application process here.

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