LGBTQ+ Adoption and fostering week is celebrating those individuals and families who have gone through the process to adopt or foster someone from the community, as well as encouraging those who would have an interest to come forward.
I spoke to Merseyside Foster Carer and advocate Phil Watson on LGBTQ+ communities, who said: “Anyone can foster, and that is how it should be, we need careers who represent”.
He also spoke on the idea of the postcode lottery in children in care getting support, saying many children get moved to cheaper areas such as Blackpool as it is cheaper to afford childcare and housing.
He said: “Which I don’t think is very good for the children”, getting moved away from the area they know”.
It comes following the Children’s commissioner for England’s statement today that over 100,000 vulnerable children known to social services are receiving support around a postcode lottery, meaning not all are getting an equal opportunity to progress in a loving home and stable education.
Rachel deSouza is encouraging support for children to live with their birth family wherever possible, to reduce the number of children needing a foster placement.
It comes after she says one of the difficulties with the cost of living is the financial strain of taking on a foster placement and the costs that come with having an extra child to take care of.
According to the Government the number of children looked after (CLA) by local authorities in England rose to 83,840 in 2023 up 2% from 2022, showing their is still a big need for investment and support for children in care across all regions.
Adoption Process
Adoption in Merseyside says to adopt you will need to have “a child friendly lifestyle”, be able to offer a stable environment and be prepared to have a long-time commitment to the child. The overall process taking around a year, it will have a long term benefit on the child and the adoption parents.
More information on the adoption process can be found here:
Featured image: AIM Adoption & Fostering week
