Nottingham City Council is backing an appeal for more LGBT+ people and couples to give homes to children in care.
The appeal comes as part of LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week 2019 (4-10 March) which aims to encourage people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to open their homes to children in need.
Run by UK charity New Family Social, the awareness week is helping to bust key myths around who can adopt and foster.
Nottingham City Council welcomes enquiries from individuals and couples who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning.
Around 600 children in Nottingham are waiting for families to provide a healthy, stable and nurturing home – through either fostering or adoption. In particular, Nottingham is looking for homes for older children and also brothers and sisters sibling groups.
People over the age of 21 can adopt and foster. The council works with:
- Individuals and couples of any sexual orientation (married/divorced/living together/same sex/civil partnership)
- People with or without children
- Disabled people
- Home owners or tenants
- Working and unemployed people
- Any religious faith or no faith
- All racial and ethnic backgrounds
Cllr David Mellen, Portfolio Holder for Early Intervention and Early Years at the council, said: “We welcome anyone who can help a child in need. It doesn’t matter about your sexual orientation – the most important thing is that people want to provide a loving home for a child.
“We need people with stability, love and resourcefulness who can help a child with whatever needs they may have. Hopefully, LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week will inspire people to give a vulnerable child or children a safe, secure and loving home.”
Nottingham City Council’s fostering and adoption team are holding a monthly information event on Wednesday 21 March from 6.30-8.30pm at Loxley House. This is open to anyone interested in finding out more about fostering of adoption with Nottingham City Council. Find out more about the event here.
You can also find out more about fostering and adopting with Nottingham City Council.
For more information about LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week 2019, please click here.