Supporting our LGBT+ adopters
Wednesday, 22 September 2021
The second annual Adoption and Foster Care Support Week for LGBT+ parents takes place 20 to 24 September. We're proud to back it.
LGBT+ people play a key role in Central Bedfordshire, parenting some of our most vulnerable children.
In 2020, 1 in 6 adoptions in England were same-sex couples. Research suggests that LGBT+ adoptive parents are more likely to adopt older children, sibling groups, or those with additional needs and disabilities than other adopters. While LGBT+ adopters bring a unique skillset to parenting, they also face distinct and separate support challenges to other adopters.
To help our LGBT+ adopters, Adoption Connects (the adoption agency for Central Bedfordshire Council and Milton Keynes Council) will take part in September’s campaign to raise awareness of new, unique content online that our adopters can access as the campaign takes place. Throughout the week this will focus on education. New Family Social – the UK’s charity for LGBT+ adopters and foster carers – leads the campaign and says education is frequently a concern.
James Lawrence, New Family Social’s Head of Engagement & Communications, says:
Finding the right school for your child is a top priority for all parents. If you’re LGBT+ you’ll want to make sure your family is fully supported by the school’s policies and practices. You’ll also need to know that the schools on offer can meet your child’s additional needs. If you need to access help from your adoption agency, you'll want clarity on what it can do for you.
Councillor Sue Clark, our Executive Member for Families, Education and Children said:
Our adopters are very special people, they make a wonderful difference to some of the most vulnerable children in Central Bedfordshire, so we want to be there every step of the way for them. Our comprehensive support package is designed to help build a support network around them and help them at each stage of their adoption journey. Our LGBT+ adopters can be confident that our team will provide them with high quality support, information and guidance.
Adoption Connects is a member of New Family Social and offers free access to the charity’s services as part of its support package for its LGBT+ adopters. If you’re an LGBT+ adopter in Central Bedfordshire, you can find out more online about the campaign.