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55% of people across the North West of England are unaware those from the LGBT+ community can foster

Local fostering organisation, Foster Careline, is calling on the region’s LGBT+ community to consider fostering, as research highlights stark misconceptions about who can foster which could be impacting foster care recruitment.

The number of children in need of foster care in the UK has risen by 57 percent during the coronavirus pandemic [1], yet common misconceptions that sexual orientation and identity prevents LGBT+ individuals from fostering remain.

Research conducted by Foster Careline - part of the Five Rivers social enterprise family - which operates across Chester and the surrounding areas, shows 55 percent of people in the North West of England are unaware that same sex couples or those from the LGBT+ community are eligible to foster [2]. LGBT+ History Month in February aims to promote the visibility of the LGBT+ community throughout society. This misconception that those from the LGBT+ community are unable to foster, denies the chance for LGBT+ individuals to become foster parents and as a consequence, the chance for a child or young person to have a safe place to call home.

Commenting on the need for more LGBT+ foster carers, Pauline Fitzgerald, Fostering Service Manager at Foster Careline, said: “With more and more children and young people entering the care system across Chester, we want to challenge any misconceptions that prevent people from considering fostering.

“One’s gender, sexuality, religion or ethnicity does not stop them from fostering. Some of our most amazing foster carers are from the LGBT+ community and are enriching children and young people’s lives every day. It’s also extremely important to us that we have foster carers from all backgrounds to reflect the diversity of those youngsters in the care system.

“Whether you’re thinking of a career change or you have been recently made redundant as a result of the pandemic, fostering has the ability to change the life of a child or young person that otherwise might not have a family, or a place to call home.

“Foster Careline’s foster carers receive a high level of training to provide a safe and loving home for a child or young person in care, and we offer a robust programme of e-learning and bespoke training for specialist fostering, as well as round the clock access to support.”  

Foster Careline is looking for foster cares who can provide a safe and stable home for those in need. Prospective foster carers must be interested in making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people in care, be over the age of 21 and have a spare furnished room for each child. Single people, co-habiting couples, LGBT+ couples and those living in rented accommodation have the opportunity to become foster carers.

From the moment someone is considered to become a foster carer at Foster Careline, the organisation’s team of experts will evaluate the individual’s transferable skills and will determine, through a range of detailed assessments, if they are the right person to become a foster carer.

For more information on Foster Careline, visit https://www.fostercareline.com/ , call the enquiries team on 0800 566 8337 or email carer.enquiries@fostercareline.com.

[1] https://www.barnardos.org.uk/news/children-need-barnardos-fostering-services-more-half-during-coronavirus-pandemic

[2] Research conducted by Five Rivers Child Care.

About Foster Careline

Foster Careline is committed to improving the lives of children and young people through high quality foster care. Foster Careline’s dedicated experienced team of professionals, partners with local authorities to provide the best care, homes and families that are carefully matched to meet the children’s individual needs.

The fostering agency is owned by independent fostering provide and social enterprise Five Rivers Child Care

 

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