A word from...... James Lawrence, Head of Communications & Engagement

What lessons can we learn about LGBTQ+ engagement with adoption and fostering in 2024? The first is that regional disparities still exist, although the gap narrowed between those countries where strong and poorer involvement was seen. In England, 1 in 5 adoptions were to same-gender couples. In Northern Ireland this stood at 1 in 6.

While Wales’ 2024 figures are delayed, in 2023 1 in 4 adoptions were to same-gender couples. Scotland – which uniquely counts its figures based on a calendar rather than financial year – saw 1 in 8 adoptions in 2023 be to same-gender couples.

Digging deeper, there’s a concerning decline in LGBTQ+ adoption in England. The total number of adoptions in the country fell by 20. The fall among same-gender couples adopting was double this, dropping by 40. Adoptions by women in same-gender couples bore the brunt of this decline, accounting for 30 of the fall of 40.

Differences in how the data is published between countries makes more in-depth analysis difficult for Scotland and Northern Ireland. For example the latter only publishes a narrative rather than a dataset that can be interrogated. In a welcome change in Wales, the statistics there now feature information on the number of non-binary adoptive parents.

Despite these positive trends, it’s important to note that all UK government data currently undercounts the full engagement of our community in adoption. As statistics focus on the composition of the adoptive family, this excludes single LGBTQ+ adoptive parents, bi adopters in different gender relationships, and trans adopters in different gender relationships. This limitation highlights the need for more inclusive data publication by the relevant government departments. It isn’t the case that the data isn’t known – to properly assess an adoption applicant social workers cover and record the sexual orientation and gender identity.

Most worryingly, there’s been no improvement in the published data available on foster carers. Unlike in adoption – where there’s some information available – there’s little in the public domain about who currently fosters in the UK. This prevents LGBTQ+ people from engaging with fostering. Historically, an expectation of discrimination deterred our community from considering it as a route to caring for children. Statistical evidence that our community now fosters would help dispel this concern and improve recruitment campaigns. Until this changes, it’s hard to see how any efforts to encourage more LGBTQ+ people to foster will succeed – despite the enduring success of our community adopting.