June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the diversity, resilience, and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. It's a vibrant month filled with parades, events, and initiatives to foster acceptance, equality, and love. While the festivities and celebrations are significant, Pride Month also serves as an opportunity to highlight pressing issues and inspire action within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. One such critical area is fostering where we need more LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. 

The importance of LGBTQ+ representation in fostering

In the UK, the foster care system faces ongoing challenges in finding loving, supportive homes for children in need. With approximately 80,000 children in care in England alone, there is a significant demand for foster families and we embrace LGBTQ+ individuals and couples who can put a child's needs first providing nurturing environment and home. 

Why consider fostering?

LGBTQ+ foster carers can provide inclusive environments where children, especially those who might be questioning their own identities, can feel safe and accepted. This is crucial for fostering self-esteem and understanding in young individuals.

Fostering offers a pathway to expand families and share lives with children who need love and support. At Foster for East Midlands we’ve got a great network of professionals and local carers who can help and support you. You won’t be isolated, and there’s a really strong sense of community and team spirit. It’s an opportunity to create new traditions, experiences, and memories, enriching the children’s and the carers’ lives, read more about the support you will receive on our web page. 

Steps to becoming a foster parent

At Foster for East Midlands, diversity is celebrated as a cornerstone of fostering. LGBTQ+ individuals and couples are welcomed with open arms, recognising the invaluable contributions they bring to the fostering community. From the moment you express interest in fostering to long after placement, Foster for East Midlands provides comprehensive support and guidance. There are many different types of fostering opportunities, read more on our types of fostering page. 

Be a Part of Change

Pride Month is not only a time of celebration but also a call to action. For the LGBTQ+ community, fostering represents a powerful avenue to make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children. By stepping into the role of a foster carer, LGBTQ+ individuals and couples can help build a more inclusive, compassionate world. Let this Pride Month inspire more members of the community to explore fostering and embrace the joys and challenges it brings. 

We're there for you every step of the way. You'll be supported by people from across the council who look after children in your area.  You'll be heard and empowered. Together, we can create families that are diverse, loving, and strong.

We ask that you count yourself in, not out. Read more information on our can I foster page, which may support some myths in your mind. 

If you're interested in fostering you can get in touch with Foster For East Midlands, the recruitment hub for Nottinghamshire County, Nottingham City, Derby City and Derbyshire councils or call 03033 132950.