IVF is a great way to start a family but it can be a stressful process. GENNET City Fertility clinic in London offers professional counselling to people going through IVF to reduce stress and improve their chances of conception For same-sex couples, single women and couples who have had difficulties conceiving naturally, IVF (in vitro…
Read more
Creating families through surrogacy – gay style
Starting a family via surrogacy has become increasingly common amongst gay men, despite constant changes in rules affecting availability in other countries. When Thailand, India, Nepal & Cambodia all froze access to surrogacy for foreigners, many gay men were left with embryos stranded. Meanwhile, providers in the USA, Canada and South East Asia have stepped…
Read more
Raising awareness for LGBT adoption & fostering
Hertfordshire County Council is supporting this year’s sixth annual LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Adoption and Fostering Week to help raise awareness about the need for more adopters and foster carers throughout the county. LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week runs from March 6-12 and aims to reach potential adoptive parents and foster carers with…
Read more
Calling all kinds of loving families
It should be a fact of life for every child – a loving family and a safe home where they can grow up happy and content. Unfortunately, more than 2,000 children across the UK are currently awaiting adoption, still hoping for that security and permanency in their lives. For older children, sibling groups, children with…
Read more
Count yourself in to fostering
Becoming a foster parent can be a rewarding career. You will change the life of a child for the better as well as get the opportunity to develop your own skills and grow as a person, all of this with support and training and you’ll earn an allowance at the same time. Richard, a Foster…
Read more
Gender-neutral parenting: an in-depth guide
Many parents-to-be are frustrated by the social limitations of gender stereotyping. They don’t want their girls to only play with tea sets and dolls or their boys to be dressed only in blue pretending to be policemen and playing with diggers and trucks. Gender-neutral parenting gives children free choice and nurtures creativity, self-awareness and identity…
Read more
Parental orders: a vital step for families following surrogacy
Surrogacy is an increasingly common route to parenthood for both LGBT and heterosexual couples. The number of parents finishing their surrogacy journey with an application for a parental order in England has risen every year since 2009-10, with 295 applications made in the past year. But does this figure tell the whole story when it…
Read more
Types of fostering placements
Short-term/task-centered fostering There will be a task centered plan for this child with specific tasks such as integrating them back into their family within six months. There may be specific work that needs to be done with the child around behavioral issues such as setting firm boundaries. Leaving care A young person reaching adult age…
Read more
Applying to foster: the process
Want to find out more about fostering? Here are the next steps. Call a foster agency and make an initial enquiry. They will invite you to an open evening to learn more. A social worker will come to your home for an initial visit to talk it through in more detail and do some checks…
Read more
Becoming a foster carer, 11 myths demystified
There are still many misconceptions about who can foster. Here are the top 11. I can’t foster because… I’m too old. Your age is not a barrier to becoming a foster carer. I am single. Anyone can foster regardless of whether they have a partner or not. I’ve got pets. So long as your pet…
Read more
