Sutton Council supports LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week 2021

From Monday 1 - Sunday 7 March, adoption and fostering agencies, including Sutton Fostering, are celebrating LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week 2021, encouraging more LGBT+ people to consider different pathways to parenting a child.

LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week is a national initiative led by the charity New Family Social and aims to remind people that if they want to foster or adopt they can be from any background, gender or sexual orientation. The theme this year is ‘Build Your Family’.

Sutton Council is responsible for fostering around 250 children and young people who are in need of homes for whom the Council acts as Corporate Parent and recruiting new carers to help look after them is an on-going campaign. Given the challenges in place as a result of COVID-19, Sutton Council is in need of foster carers now more than ever.

Foster carers do not need to have any specific qualifications and Sutton Council welcome people to apply from all backgrounds, religions and sexualities who have a passion for caring for children and a willingness to make a difference to help change children’s futures. As well as the personal rewards from helping young people to turn their lives around, Sutton Council offers a weekly allowance and training and support to help people begin their Foster Care journey.

Councillor Marian James, Chair of the People Committee said; “If you’re LGBT+ and have been thinking about fostering, please don’t rule yourself out! Sutton is an open and inclusive borough and the Fostering team welcomes applications from people of any sexuality, race, religion or marital status. What matters is that you can open your hearts and your homes to a child who may have not had the greatest start in life.” 

During COVID-19 the Fostering Service has continued to adapt to meet the needs of the community and recruit foster carers. All visits are undertaken virtually in line with government guidelines and have adapted our practice to ensure everyone's safety. The fostering assessment will continue to offer thorough preparation to our applicants to ensure they feel ready to become foster carers. Sutton Council is particularly in need of people who would like to care for teenagers and sibling groups.

Two virtual Q&A sessions are taking place on 23 February and 31 March for those interested in finding out more about fostering in the borough. For more information on these events find ‘Fostering in Sutton’ on Facebook and Twitter.

Anyone interested in finding out more about fostering should visit; /fosteringinsutton