FtSE Member News: Barnardos - LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week 2015

Carers from across England, Scotland and Wales are celebrating the tenth anniversary since the implementation of the Adoption and Children Act2 which gave LGBT couples the same equal legal rights as heterosexual adopters.This year New Family Social – the charity which supports adopters and foster carers from LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) communities – has joined forces with children’s charity Barnardo’s to mark LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week.

This year’s campaign will highlight there is still a need for more carers to come forward and adopt or foster children, in particular sibling groups who often wait the longest to find new forever families.

The number of children adopted by LGBT couples has tripled since the landmark law change in 2005 - a total of 1,313.

Javed Khan, Chief Executive at Barnardo’s, said: “Barnardo’s has always encouraged and supported adopters and foster carers from LGBT communities, long before the legal changes were introduced.

“As the UK’s largest adoption agency in the voluntary sector, we are delighted to support this year’s campaign.

“I’m proud to say that of the 123 children we placed for adoption in the year up to December 2014, 16 are placed with LGBT adopters – a rate of 13% - which is more than twice the national average.

“We specialise in finding adopters for older children, children in sibling groups and children with additional or uncertain needs. We are very proud of the contribution our adopters and carers from the LGBT community make towards the work of Barnardo’s in turning around the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in the UK.”

Source:
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/news/LGBT_Adoption_and_Fostering_Week_2015_/latest-news.htm?ref=102901

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