Foster Care Matters and their parent charity, Adoption Matters are proudly supporting ‘Now’s the time’ to adopt or foster – LGBTQ+ Adoption & Fostering Week 2026.

‘Now’s the time’ – this year’s theme focuses on the fact that there’s no such thing as the perfect time to adopt or foster.

There’s never a perfect time to adopt or foster, but with an urgent need for more enquirers to consider adoption or fostering, now’s the time to take the first steps.

The statistics show there is an urgent need for both foster parents and adopters across England:

• 54,820 children were living with foster families in March 2025 with over 6,000 more foster families needed

Foster Care Matters foster parents, Luke and Zach, were approved in 2025, they commented:

“Deb our Family Matching Co-Ordinator at Foster Care Matters, consistently made us feel that she was in our corner and genuinely wants the best outcome for both us and the children when looking for a match.  Throughout our enquiry and assessment, we couldn’t fault Foster Care Matters and we’d urge others out there, to find out more, don’t put it off, find out more today!”

LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week is led by New Family Social, the UK’s peer-support charity for LGBTQ+ adopters, foster carers and special guardians, Foster Care Matters are proud members allowing all their LGBTQ+ adopters and foster parents free membership.

Karen Palfreyman, Foster Care Matters Fostering Service Manager, shared:

“Sexuality isn’t an important factor when it comes to fostering or adopting, but what is important is that you have the commitment, resilience, stability and love to provide to children. We welcome and encourage enquiries from individuals, couples and families from all different communities.”

Foster Care Matters is hosting an online information event during the week on Tuesday 3 March at 6:30pm – click here for more details.

Can’t make it? Don’t worry, download one of our free, no obligation fostering guides here.