LGBT+ Adoption & Fostering Week – which returns today (4 March) – calls on more LGBT+ people to explore these routes into parenting, after the number of looked-after children in England hit a new high. Some 75,420 children were classed as looked-after in England in 2018, rising four per cent from the year before. One in eight adoptions in the country are now to same-sex couples, but there remains an urgent need for more LGBT+ people to explore both fostering and adopting.

The campaign unites agencies keen to work with LGBT+ applicants and New Family Social, the UK’s charity supporting LGBT+ adopters and foster carers. Throughout the week some 90 information events will take place across the UK for interested potential parents. There’s also support online with a series of new audio case studies from LGBT+ adopters, foster carers and agencies.

Tor Docherty, New Family Social chief executive, said: ‘We’re pleased to see the proportion of same-sex couples adopting continuing to rise in England and Wales. But there’s still much work to be done to support and encourage LGBT+ people to adopt and foster – and vitally important for those children in care.’

Find out more about the campaign on the New Family Social website, follow it on Twitter at #proudtoadopt and #proudtofoster or on Facebook.