LGBTQ+ people in the West Midlands encouraged to foster

The Fostering Network, a charity in the West Midlands, is encouraging more people, including those in the LGBTQ+ community to consider fostering. There is currently an urgent need for more foster carers across the UK, with crucial need for a staggering 630 more carers needed in the West Midlands region. The charity is hoping that members of the LGBTQ+ community may be able to help fill that gap and provide much-needed care for children.

As part of the campaign, fostering agency, Family Care Group, want reassure perspective foster families from the LGBTQ+ community who may be worried their application wouldn’t be successful due to their sexuality or gender identity.

The registered manager for the group, Hannah Makin, said, “This could not be further from the truth”.

In a press release, she added: “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.”

The practice manager, Sonia Sandhu, also noted that the only key to being a foster parent is “being compassionate and having a welcoming home to offer.”

Kimberly and Lucy Chapman, from Shifnal, Shropshire, who have been fostering together for seven years spoke to the BBC about their experience. They said they were initially worried they might be judged for being gay but found the fostering community to be welcoming and accepting. They mainly do long-term fostering and are currently caring for four foster children under the age of five, including a newborn baby.

"There are lots of highs and lots of lows but we really love fostering," said Kimberly. "I couldn't imagine doing anything else."

Her partner, Lucy, added that having and LGBTQ+ background can even be an asset for fostering.

She explained: "The majority of people coming out will have experienced rejection from their family, even homelessness, and I think a lot of children in foster care have experienced exactly the same thing," she added.

Kimberly and Lucy urged other LGBTQ+ couples or individuals who are thinking about adoption to give fostering a go first.

"There's a million reasons why people think you can't foster but you absolutely can, you just need a spare room and an open heart".