A Cardiff councillor says more needs to be done to increase the number of LGBT foster carers.
Only one in eight adoptions in Wales were with same-sex couples in 2016 according to the Welsh Government.
Chairman of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Lee Bridgeman, says the council needs to communicate Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender foster opportunities better.
“As a local authority, we are aware that we need to increase the number of LGBT foster parents. We are keen to recruit more LGBT people into the foster care system; it’s about educating LGBT groups that they can foster. It’s open to everyone. We need to educate LGBT groups that you can become foster carers, you won’t be prejudiced against and we encourage them to foster.”
According to the Welsh Government there are currently 140 children across the country waiting for an adoptive family.
It has been legal for same-sex couples to adopt children since 2005, despite this only one in eight adoptions are by same-sex couples.
A recent YouGov poll revealed the main reason LGBT couples are not fostering is because they fear discrimination.
Daniel Sinclair from The Fostering Network said, “I don’t think LGBT couples are discriminated against during the fostering process. We know that fostering services are really good at working with a diverse range of people who consider fostering. It doesn’t matter if you’re from the LGBT, Muslim or Polish community, as long as you have the skills and experiences to meet the needs of the children in your care then fostering services will want to hear from you.”
This week is LGBT adoption and fostering week aimed at encouraging same-sex couples to foster.
Cardiff City Council says LGBT couples interested in fostering should contact Cardiff’s Children Services.
