This week Gillian discusses with Dee Constantine and Carly Arnold from Southampton City Council Fostering Service, the options for trans+ people and the wider queer community to be able to foster or adopt.

They discuss the current scheme in the Southampton (UK) area which seems particularly inclusive and innovative in that they assess for suitability based on ‘parental capacity’ rather than gender or hetro-normative examples or other societal methods.

They discuss many of the myths and options in fostering as well as providing contact details (which can be found below) so that people can explore how fostering and adoption can help create new opportunities and family structures for trans+ people.

If you feel that fostering might be for you, please contact the friendly recruitment team who will be happy to have an informal chat.

Fostering Service

Southampton City Council

Tel: 0800 519 1818

Email: fostering@southampton.gov.uk

www.southampton.gov.uk/fostering

Like our Facebook page, @fosteringsouthampton

You can donate support the work on the podcast or to help build the ‘hardship fund’ at Beyond Reflections (https://beyond-reflections.org.uk) - to help those who are financially challenged but still need support

Hope you enjoy and find this useful.

You can submit questions to gillianrussell77@yahoo.com