‘1, 2, 3, or more?’ is the theme of LGBTQ+ Adoption & Fostering Week 2023, which returns from 6 March, 2023. With record numbers of looked-after children across the UK, there’s never been greater need for more LGBTQ+ people to consider adoption or fostering.

The 2023 campaign asks LGBTQ+ people to consider adopting or fostering single children or those in sibling groups. Research by the BBC in 2020 found that more than half of sibling groups in care are split up. In some cases this is because the children need separate care. In others, it’s because of a lack of foster carers or adoptive parents who can care for siblings.

The campaign will bring together the UK’s adoption and foster care agencies with LGBTQ+ potential applicants. Now in its eleventh year, the campaign remains the only one to focus on LGBTQ+ people. LGBTQ+ adoptive parents now represent the second largest group of all adopters inEngland. 1 in 6 adoptions in the country in 2022 were to same-sex couples. In Wales it was 1 in 4. In Northern Ireland, it was 1 in 10. In Scotland in 2021, 1 in 11 adoptions were to same-sex couples.

Agencies wishing to participate in the campaign can complete this online form to register their interest.