Fostering News: Survey shows strengths of gay adopters as first LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week launches

Gay adopters and foster carers are being hailed by social workers for their significant strengths in a survey commissioned by New Family Social.

At a time when adoption figures are at a 10 year low, 72% of social workers surveyed saw the "amount of energy and enthusiasm" LGBT adopters bring to the process as a significant strength, while 76% saw "openness to difference, and supporting a child with a sense of difference" as equally important.

Hugh Thornbery, Strategic Director of Children's Services at Action for Children, a key partner of the week, said: "Over the years, our LGBT foster carers and adopters have helped to transform many children's lives and we welcome more applications from LGBT people."

Andy Leary-May, Director of New Family Social, said: "More and more LGBT people are choosing adoption and fostering as a way to form a family, and we want prospective parents to see just how rewarding it can be, and how much advice and support is on offer from our huge community of families around the UK".

Source: www.actionforchildren.org.uk