If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, you may be wondering if fostering is something you can do. Well, the answer to this question is most emphatically, yes!
Just as there is diversity amongst the children in care in England, foster carers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have different life experiences, skills and qualities to help meet the needs of children and young people in foster care.
Tor Docherty, chief executive at New Family Social, said: “Record numbers of LGBT people now adopt or foster. Despite this, YouGov polling shows many believe they’ll be discriminated against by agencies, with eight in ten lesbian, gay and bisexual people expecting to face barriers if they apply to become foster parents.” Although subject to the same checks and processes as any other foster carer applicant, there are no extra hoops to jump through, and no bias or prejudice applied to LGBT applicants. Research suggests that many LGBT foster carers have learned resilience in the face of discriminatory social attitudes which makes them good role models when looked after children experience discrimination and question their identity or sense of belonging. Your life story may be just the next chapter a child needs to flourish in their own journey.
Fostering is first and foremost about providing a home for a child and including them in your family. Whatever that family looks like. The qualities needed for a foster carers include things such as the ability to listen, resilience, being a team player, and having a sense of humor. You do need to be over 21, have a spare room, and be a UK resident.
Fostering with your local council means you benefit from a local support network, a dedicated family support worker, training and education opportunities, and generous allowances and payments which recognise the professional nature of fostering.
There are more children than ever before in care in Gloucestershire – the number is fast approaching 900 – and LGBT foster carers are already changing young people’s lives every single day. Do you think you would be able to be a local foster carer for local children?
Gloucestershire County Council has responsibility for every child in care in the county and is urgently looking for more foster carers who can provide a safe, stable, and positive home environment for children in our county. If you think fostering is something that you could do – now, or in the future – reach out to the fostering team at GCC for a no obligation chat on 01242 532654, or simply visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/fostering to request an information pack.
