LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week 2021

If you are LGBT+ and thinking about fostering in Bury, then Foster with Bury would like to hear from you.

It is LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week until 7^th March and Foster with Bury is encouraging more LGBT+ people to consider becoming a foster carer to a looked after child in the borough.

We welcome LGBT+ potential parents and will support your application to adopt or foster. There are still many children in care whose lives could be transformed by an LGBT+ foster carer.

This year Foster with Bury have completed a collaborative campaign with five other GM Authorities for a podcast to promote fostering within the LGBTQ community. The podcast is now live on Gaydio Radio website and features Bury foster carers Luke & Kevin. You can view the podcast here.

Luke and Kevin, Bury foster carers said: “The support from the local authority team is possibly the best you are going to get because it’s a wraparound service. It’s the best outcome for the children if you do go through a local authority because it can be all tied up together.

“If you’re thinking about fostering, just do it. Don’t hesitate, go for it. Find out about it, enjoy it, go through the process and just recognise that everyday is different and it can be hard work but the changes and challenges that you overcome are just amazing.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Bury Council’s cabinet member for children and families, said: “There is no typical foster carer, just as there is not a typical foster child. There is diversity in children in foster care, so it is also important to have diversity in the foster carer community.

“We welcome applications from people of any sexuality, race or religion. Your sexual orientation does not affect your ability to foster a child, you don’t have to be married or have a partner either, and we have lots of excellent single foster carers. The most important thing is that you can open your hearts and your homes to support a child who may have not had the best start in life and give them a loving, safe environment.”

To find out more about fostering with Foster with Bury, who can foster and the different types of fostering available, please call 0800 9555 311, email fosterwithbury@bury.gov.uk or visit www.fosterwithbury.co.uk.

ENDS

Press release issued: 5th March 2021