During LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week 2019 (March 4 to 10) members of the LGBT community in Cumbria are invited to find out more about adopting and fostering at events in Carlisle and Barrow.
Cumbria County Council welcomes applications from members of the LGBT community and has already helped many same-sex couples and single LGBT people to adopt and foster.
Carlisle foster carer, Kevin Kerr, has fostered with the county council for more than 15 years, with his male partner. He said: “It’s been a really positive experience, fostering is definitely a way of life rather than a profession; like any parents our life revolves around the children. This is just a different way of having children in your life.
“It can be a bit of a mad house, what with all the animals and the kids coming and going but I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is our family and I love it.”
Cllr Anne Burns, Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services, said: “At Cumbria County Council we welcome applications from LGBT foster carers and adopters. You can be heterosexual, gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual because we don’t focus on sexual orientation when we are making the decision to approve adopters and foster carers.
“We know from experience that same sex couples can be excellent parents and have so much to offer children who are waiting for a family.”
Find out more about fostering and adoption at our events next week:
- Monday March 4 – Book a private adoption appointment at Cumbria House, Carlisle – Slots available from 10am to 1pm
- Tuesday March 5 – Fostering drop in session, Costa Coffee, Barrow – 11am to 1-pm
- Friday March 8 – Fostering drop in session, Costa Coffee, The Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle – 10.30am to 12.30pm
For further information on adoption or fostering please visit cumbria.gov.uk/adoption or cumbria.gov.uk/fostering or call 0303 333 1216.