This week beginning 4^th March 2024 sees the return of LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week, organised by charity New Family Social. ARC Adoption is proud to join 120 adoption agencies from around the UK in supporting the annual campaign.

The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Different Together’ - encouraging more people from the LGBTQ+ community to find out more about adoption and fostering, while also highlighting the need for more adopters for children from diverse ethnic backgrounds, who can wait longer for a family, along with siblings, older children and those with additional needs. 

Figures show that there were 83,840 children in care in England in 2023, and over 2280 children waiting for a permanent, loving adoptive family. ARC Adoption has helped many families from the LGBTQ+ community to adopt over the years and we’d like to extend a warm welcome to anyone looking to find out more. 

Hear from LGBTQ+ parents who adopted with our support

We have shared a new Q and A feature in the news section of our website with parents Anna* and Beth* (right), who adopted with our support just last year - click here to read more about their experience.

We are also hosting an online information event on Thursday evening, where we will talk through the adoption process and extensive support available from ARC Adoption – and most importantly, we will have two Mam’s join us to talk about their experience of adopting their little boy and to help answer questions from the group. You can register to join the event here. 

In 2023, 1 in 4 of the families who started the adoption process with us identified as LGBTQ+.

New Family Social are also hosting webinars and releasing podcasts this week related to LGBTQ+ adoption and fostering – head to their website for more details.

ARC Adoption’s Director, Terry Fitzpatrick OBE said:

“We welcome enquiries from all, and anyone contacting ARC Adoption can always expect a very warm welcome from our team. The main thing we are looking for in adopters is the ability to provide a lifelong, stable and nurturing home, and in our experience, LGBTQ+ community members often have additional life experiences and resilience, which can help make them fantastic adopters to a wide range of children.”

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We hope you find the information shared during LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week inspiring! If you’d like to take the next step and have a chat with our friendly team, please complete our enquiry form here. We’d be delighted to answer your questions. 

*Names changed in line with confidentiality