If you need support for you or your family urgently - and don't require the emergency services - the following contacts may be useful :

Social services support

Find your local council 

Support following domestic violence or abuse

GALOP – specifically for LGBT+ people who've experienced abuse and violence

The NHS

Advice and understanding

LGBT+ Helpline

LGBT Helpline [Scotland]

LGBT+ Cymru Helpline

Mindline Trans+

The Samaritans

Need to report a hate crime or incident?

Stonewall 

There’s a lot to say about adopting and fostering in the UK. There’s even more to talk about when you add being LGBT+ into the mix. Over the past year, we’ve heard plenty from our community. They’ve shared the challenges they face, their wise words and inspirational resilience.

These are the most popular and most downloaded episodes of Adoption, Fostering & Tea released in 2021.

Parenting traumatised siblings  Available since July 07, 2021

Professional psychotherapist – Nino – discusses and analyses his own experience of adopting three children with trauma. Tor and Nino discuss the ways in which trauma can manifest in children and how that can affect parenting.

The Great Behaviour Breakdown  Available since March 24, 2021

Adopter Kate talks about her experience of attachment difficulty with her 10-month-old daughter. Kate talks about how she felt rejected by her daughter in the beginning and how she handled it.

'We weren’t allowed in the foster carer’s house' Available since March 17, 2021

We talk to Jasper about his experience of adopting during lockdown. Jasper talks about the difficulty in bonding with a child whilst maintaining social distance and parenting for the first time during the pandemic.

A really wonderful family life together Available since March 03, 2021

Nancy – CEO of LGBT+ charity Stonewall – chats about her transracial adoptions, expectations of having a family and how adapting is so important. She also discusses her nervousness of doing or saying anything wrong to social workers as a lesbian couple.

We’ve just adopted siblings Available since April 21, 2021

Stuart and Simon talk about adopting siblings after 10 years of being together. They talk through their assessment process, how it compares to birth parents’ experiences and why they decided to adopt siblings.

There's many more episodes of Adoption, Fostering & Tea. Log in to see the full back catalogue. Please note, you’ll need a membership to listen to the full range. Join as a Bronze member for free.

Want to get involved?

Share your experience with us. If you’re an LGBT+ adopter or foster carer, we’d love to hear your story. You could inspire and encourage many other LGBT+ people along their family-making journeys. If you’re interested, please contact us using this form. 

You can also support the podcast by with your cold, hard cash. If you're able to make a donation, please do. It helps us to keep bringing LGBT+ people's stories to the wider world, inspiring others to parent our country's must vulnerable children.

Wales sees ‘problematic’ tumble in LGBT+ people granted adoption orders over the same time

Coronavirus' impact on the adoption sector was clear this week with the publication of statistics for 2021. Adoptions in England fell to 2,870 in 2021, from 3,440. The number of same-sex couples adopting also fell, but the proportion of the total number remains the same, at 1 in 6.

Also this week the Welsh government released its statistics. These reveal the numbers of adoptions by same-sex couples tumbled to 35 in 2021, from 55 in 2020. The total number of adoptions in Wales in 2021 fell to 265 – from 295 in 2020. This slide disproportionately affects LGBT+ adopters. Not only was the total number of adoptions by same-sex couples in Wales the lowest in five years, the proportion dropped to 1 in 8 – where in 2020 it was 1 in 5.

Tor Docherty, Chief Executive of New Family Social said: ‘It’s reassuring to see adoption agencies in England maintaining their commitment during the pandemic to assessing and matching LGBT+ potential parents with vulnerable children.’

‘The fall in adoptions in Wales by same-sex couples in 2021 is problematic. We know some adoption agencies in the country say that 1 in 3 of their adoptive families this year are LGBT+. They are the exception to the rule, as the statistics show. New Family Social's concern is that in Wales - during the pandemic - the broadest range of potential parents weren’t recruited as adopters. It's also unclear if the pandemic led to some Welsh adoption agencies prioritising ‘traditional’ family structures and adopters - both in assessment and matching adopters with a child.’

New Family Social - the UK's charity for LGBT+ adopters and foster carers - will reach out to adoption agencies in Wales to understand why the situation changed during the pandemic.

LGBT+ people in the UK interested in adopting or fostering can find out more on the charity's website.

The number of same-sex couples adopting in Wales fell to its lowest in five years, according to new statistics from Stats Wales. The figures - published in November - reveal that just 35 adoptions in 2021 were to same-sex couples. This is the lowest number since 2016, when 20 took place. In 2020, 55 adoptions in Wales were to same-sex couples.

In total there were 265 adoptions in Wales in 2021. LGBT+ people accounted for 13.2 per cent of adoptive parents in the statistics – or 1 in 8. This proportion is also a drop from 2020, when 1 in 5 adoptions in Wales were to same-sex couples.

The figures are the first released by any country in the UK to cover a full reporting year affected by COVID.

Tor Docherty, New Family Social Chief Executive, said: ‘The turbulence of the pandemic may explain the drop in adoptions in 2021. But the dive in the numbers of same-sex couples adopting is very worrying. We know from previous years that LGBT+ people play a key resource in the pool of adoptive parents.

'The needs of children awaiting adoption are paramount. Agencies need to ensure they consider the widest possible range of potential parents. LGBT+ people can and want to adopt in Wales. New Family Social will reach out to agencies in Wales to identify why the figures dropped in 2021.'

New Family Social members can log in and read the latest statistics for 

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

As part of Fyne Times' Diversity Issue, New Family Social was invited to pen a double paged-spread on legal and social progress for LGBT+ equality over the past twenty years.

Read the piece online

Across England there's a huge shortfall of parent and child foster carers with Kent based charity Diagrama currently receiving twice as many referrals as two years ago

The charity is concerned that with the number of referrals for parent and child foster placements at an unprecedented level, it urgently needs to fill this shortfall by finding and training new carers for this rewarding role.

Parent and child fostering provides a helping hand to vulnerable parents to develop and learn the key skills needed to raise their child. A parent and child foster placement is provided for mothers and or fathers who are unable to look after their child or children by themselves. The parent or parents and their child or children move in with their appointed parent and child foster carer to gain the practical skills and support needed to help them develop their childcare skills.

In some cases where there are serious concerns regarding either the parenting of the child or the parent's ability to safeguard the child, and our foster carers can provide them with the practical skills and support needed to help them develop their childcare skills.

The age of the parents and children can vary, and they may need placements for various reasons including domestic abuse, trauma, or substance misuse. Families may be in the court system and the parent and child foster carer will contribute to the assessment of the family through written daily notes.

Margaret Gardiner from Diagrama, said, 'Parent and child placements are varied and are often not a straight teaching or assessment placement but a mixture of both. The Diagrama team recognises the complexity and diversity of this type of placement and know the importance of recruiting skilled and experienced professionals as parent and child foster carers. You can be assured that the team will give you expert support throughout every stage of your fostering care. We're currently experiencing a twofold increase in demand and are very interested in talking with previous foster carers, social workers, teachers, midwives, police officers and health officers who are particularly well-suited and may have the skills we need for parent and child fostering.'

If you're interested in learning more about parent and child fostering, visit the Diagrama website. 

What experiences are approved adopters having with regional adoption agencies? A new report published today - 20 October - by the Department for Education makes interesting reading.

Read the report online

To mark National Adoption Week in the UK  - 18-24 October - New Family Social will hold an introductory webinar to adoption for LGBT+ potential applicants.

The webinar - on 20 October - is free to attend and LGBT+ people can book onto it via the website

Following public nominations and a judging panel Adoption Matters and Caritas Care today (24 September) receive commended agency status for 2021 by New Family Social’s LGBT+ adopter and foster carer members. The announcement comes at the close of the charity’s Adoption & Fostering Support Week for LGBT+ parents.

Some 130 nominations and testimonials for agencies and social workers were received from LGBT+ people at different stages of the adoption and fostering process.

The two commended agencies received the highest numbers of nominations and the most compelling evidence from LGBT+ adopters and foster carers.

Armed forces charity SSAFA was awarded a Rising Star commendation. This was in recognition of powerful feedback from LGBT+ families who adopted with its support.

Adoption NoW’s Elaine Baxter receives the ‘Above & Beyond Social Worker 2021’ commendation. Tesni Toulliou from Adopt London South is the 2021 ‘Making A Real Difference Social Worker’. CCS Adoption’s Andrea M receives the ‘Social Worker Allyship Commendation 2021’.

Tor Docherty, chief executive of New Family Social said: ‘Record numbers of LGBT+ people now adopt and foster in the UK. Selecting the right agency to go on your parenting journey is key for any LGBT+ potential applicant. We’re thrilled that so many LGBT+ people shared praise for a broad range of agencies and social workers. If you’re LGBT+ and considering adoption or fostering the experiences of others in your position will hopefully help inform your choices.’

New Family Social members’ commended agency 2021 – Adoption Matters

Norman Goodwin, CBE, Adoption Matters Chief Executive said: ‘We’re honoured to be a New Family Social Commended Agency, especially as we were nominated by our own families. Vulnerable children need families who are resilient, empathic and who’ll advocate for them at every stage in their lives .Our experience has shown us that our LGBT+ families have these qualities in abundance.’

New Family Social’s nominating members said: ‘[Adoption Matters is] so child centred, very supportive and really really had our back through complications’

New Family Social members’ commended agency 2021 – Caritas Care

Susan Swarbrick, CEO at Caritas Care said: ‘We’re so pleased and continue to give out our message that EVERYONE is welcome at Caritas Care. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive charity and have LGBT+ Social Workers within our teams. We ensure that each team member has undertaken training on all aspects of their work and promotes equal opportunities at all times for everyone we work with.’

New Family Social’s nominating members said: ‘[Caritas Care] should be marked as the Gold standard for other agencies.’

New Family Social members’ ‘Rising Star’ Agency commendation 2021 - SSAFA

Jill Farrelly, Head of Adoption at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said: ‘SSAFA champions equality and diversity, with our adoption service welcoming applications from the whole of the serving military community. The team’s Social Workers and Adoption Panel members have specialist training in LGBT+ adoption. We’re very proud of our record in recruiting and supporting LGBT+ adopters with over 40 per cent of our approvals being same sex couples in 2020.’

New Family Social’s nominating members praised SSAFA for ‘[its] ongoing openness to learn and improve around sexual orientation, gender identity and promoting inclusivity’

New Family Social members’ ‘Above & Beyond Social Worker 2021’ – Elaine Baxter, Adoption NoW

Watch Elaine Baxter’s acceptance speech on YouTube 

New Family Social’s nominating members said: ’[Elaine] stayed with us until our next social worker was identified and kept in contact throughout. Even now she still checks in’

New Family Social members’ ‘Making a Difference Social Worker 2021’ – Tesni Tolliou, Adopt London South

Tesni Tolliou from Adopt London said: ‘I’m very honoured and humbled at being selected for just doing the job that I love. To be someone that our families can turn to and rely on is a real privilege.’

New Family Social’s nominating members said: ‘[Tesni] really 'gets' us and understands our kids and what they need. She’s super efficient at researching, applying for and arranging the support we’re looking for. We feel really lucky to have her as our allocated contact for post adoption support.’

New Family Social members’ ‘Allyship Award 2021’ – Andrea M, CCS Adoption

Speaking of receiving the Allyship Award Commendation, Andrea M said: ‘I’m hugely thankful to have been recognised in this way. It’s a real privilege to do the work that I do and for families to allow me to be alongside them in such life changing times. I continue to be in awe of the families I work with, their strength and resilience, in particular in the last 18 months and hope to continue to be part of their world for many years to come”.

New Family Social’s nominating members said: ‘[Andrea] values the differences we bring as a same-sex couple, and the specific experiences we had that would help us support our son through relatable struggles (dealing with prejudice, proactive and positive advocacy, anticipating barriers to equity).’

For more information visit

Adoption & Fostering Support Week for LGBT+ parents 

Adoption & Fostering Support Week for LGBT+ parents will return from 20 September, 2021. The campaign is led by New Family Social, the UK's charity for LGBT+ adopters and foster carers.

James Lawrence, New Family Social's Head of Communications & Engagement said: 'Adoption and fostering are both parenting journeys. Every parent needs support at some point, but LGBT+ adopters and foster carers can face unique challenges. This campaign will focus on education and contact - two of the most frequently raised issues by our LGBT+ adopter and foster carer members.'

The campaign will include specifically curated content for LGBT+ adopters and foster carers, the results of New Family Social's annual poll of its members and support from adoption and fostering agencies across the UK.

Among those agencies we know that'll take part in 2021....

If you're LGBT+ and considering going on your adoption or fostering journey with an agency not on the list below, you may want to ask it why it's not backing a campaign about supporting LGBT+ adopters or foster carers. All of the agencies listed offer dedicated support to their LGBT+ adopters and foster carers through their membership of New Family Social.

Adopt Coast to Coast RAA 

Adoption Counts

Adopt South RAA

Adopt South West

Adopt Thames Valley 

Adopters for Adoption

Adoption Central England RAA (ACE) 

Adoption Focus 

Adoption in Merseyside

Adoption Matters 

Adoption Mid & West Wales

Adoption Now 

Adoption South East 

Adoption Tees Valley RAA 

Adoption West 

Adoption@Heart

Adoptionplus 

Alpha Plus Fostering 

Arc Adoption NE 

Barnardo's

Birmingham Children's Trust

Bradford City Metropolitan District Council Fostering

Brighton & Hove City Council Fostering

Buckinghamshire Council

Cambridgeshire Council 

Caritas Care

CCS Adoption

Central Bedfordshire Council 

Childcare Bureau Worcester 

Compass Fostering

Cornwall Adoption Agency

Devon Council Fostering

Diagrama Adoption

Family Adoption Links

Family Futures 

Leicester City Council Fostering

Leicestershire Council Adoption

Lincolnshire County Council

London Borough of Camden Fostering Team

London Borough of Southwark Fostering Team

National Fostering Group

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust

One Adoption North & Humber RAA 

PACT

Scottish Adoption

Southampton City Council Fostering

St Francis' Children's Society

Surrey County Council  Fostering

Together for Adoption

Vale, Valleys & Cardiff Regional Adoption Collaborative 

Western Bay Adoption Service 

Yorkshire Adoption Agency

Adoption & Fostering Support Week for LGBT+ parents - campaign page 

Read about the 2020 campaign

https://www.fosteringindevon.org.uk/