March 02, 2026 - 178 views
An increasing number of LGBTQ+ households are stepping forward to foster children in Wales, according to new figures released to mark LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week.
There are now 56 LGBTQ+ fostering households across Wales — a 30 per cent increase compared with 2024 — reflecting what campaigners say is growing confidence and visibility within the community.
LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week, which begins on March 2, aims to encourage more people to consider fostering or adopting. In Conwy alone, around 240 children are currently in foster care, highlighting the ongoing need for more carers.
Foster Wales Conwy is urging LGBTQ+ individuals and couples to make enquiries in 2026, stressing that people from all backgrounds — single or in relationships — can apply.
Among those already making a difference are Hannah and Betty, who have been fostering with Conwy County Borough Council since 2024. What began as a shared ambition when they first met quickly became a life-changing commitment.
They said fostering has been “incredibly rewarding and truly life-changing,” adding that seeing their foster child thrive has been “amazing.”
“We’ve learned to use our strengths — creativity, affection, and simply who we are — and our skills as a couple complement each other perfectly,” they said. “For anyone considering fostering, it’s important to remember that it’s not just your immediate household that grows — it’s your entire support network. For us, that’s been a beautiful, life-changing journey.”
National leaders say foster carers from the LGBTQ+ community bring valuable life experience, resilience and empathy to the role.
Suzanne Griffiths, Director of the National Adoption Service for Wales and Foster Wales, said foster carers offer “stability, understanding and a safe place to thrive” for children and young people.
“For some children, foster carers can help them move on to adoption, which will provide the lifelong security they need when returning to their birth family is not possible,” she said. “With so many children currently in need of loving homes, we would strongly encourage anyone considering fostering or adoption to come forward and start a conversation with their local team today.”
Foster Wales is the national network of not-for-profit local authority fostering services in Wales, working to ensure children can stay local and improve their life chances through well-supported carers. The National Adoption Service for Wales coordinates adoption services across the country in partnership with local authorities and voluntary agencies.
More information about fostering in Conwy is available via Foster Wales Conwy.
