At Foster Wales Torfaen, we are committed to supporting diverse foster carers and creating an inclusive fostering community. We are proud to support foster carers from all backgrounds and want everyone to know that fostering is open to you – including LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. In foster care, what really matters is creating a positive environment where children can grow, feel secure, and thrive — supported by your passion and commitment to making a difference in a child’s life.
We recently spoke with Eleanor and Kay, a same-sex couple who initially had concerns about fostering due to their sexuality. Despite their doubts, they felt welcomed and supported and have since made a significant difference to the lives of many children.
“We had thought about fostering for some time before making the initial enquiry. We weren’t sure whether we’d be allowed to foster as a same-sex couple or how others might react — particularly the children placed with us and their parents. We didn’t know any other LGBTQ+ foster carers in the local area but we decided to make the call. From the very first conversation, our worries were eased. Our assessing social worker, Olivia, was fantastic and we felt supported throughout the whole process. The assessment wasn’t nearly as daunting as we had expected.”
Eleanor and Kay were approved as foster carers with Foster Wales Torfaen in 2024 and have since cared for nine children.
“We began by offering respite care, which allowed us to meet other foster carers and build connections within the fostering community. We didn’t know what to expect initially but seeing babies grow and develop while in our care is priceless.
When a child was first placed with us, we felt nervous about attending family time. We worried that relationships with birth parents might be challenging but that wasn’t our experience at all. We didn’t realise how much interaction we would have with families and it has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve built strong relationships that have continued even after placements ended, including supporting one child to return home to her mother — a really positive outcome for that family.”
“So far, we’ve been fortunate not to experience significant challenges and we continue to love being able to care for and support children within our home. We would encourage anyone considering fostering to find out more, talk to people who are already fostering and not let being part of the LGBTQ+ community hold them back.”
If you would like to find out more about fostering with Foster Wales Torfaen, visit our website: https://torfaen.fosterwales.gov.wales/ or phone 01495 766669 for a friendly chat.
