Cumbria Fostering & Adoption service is asking members of the LGBT community in Cumbria to consider whether they could change the life of vulnerable children through fostering or adoption, ahead of Cumbria Pride on Saturday (21 September).
The annual event takes place at Caldew Riverside (Lower Viaduct) Car Park in Carlisle from 12pm to 6pm and the Cumbria Fostering & Adoption team will be running a stand throughout the afternoon, as part of an ongoing campaign to help find loving, stable homes for children across the county.
Potential foster carers and adopters will have the opportunity to speak to local adopters and foster carers at our stand and to get information on the children who need homes, the approval process and the support on offer.
Cumbrian couple Amy, 31, and Kirsty, 33, adopted their son Archie* in May 2021 when he was 23 months old.
The couple, who whose adoption journey began when they attended an information event, are encouraging others who are thinking about parenting to find out more by visiting our information stand at Pride.
“We did consider other options to become a family,” says Kirsty, “but once we attended the information event we knew adoption was what we wanted to do.”
The couple say they “love being part of the adoption community” and both felt very supported throughout the process and they would both wholeheartedly recommend adoption for LGBTQ+ people and for everyone. “It can be a very emotional process but it’s 100% worth it,” says Kirsty. “We don't feel any different as a family so don't let that put you off applying. We felt just as valued as any other couple during the process.”
Many children in care have not had the positive family experience that most children have. By becoming a foster carer or adopter with us you could help to give children the loving start in life they deserve.
People from all walks of life can foster or adopt; your background, life skills and experience can all help support the children and young people you care for.
For more information on fostering please visit cumbriafostering.org.uk and for details on adopting visit cumbriaadoption.org.uk
*Not his real name