Today marks the start of LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week and this year one local charity is determined to encourage as many LGBT+ people as possible to think about adopting or fostering a child.

St Andrew’s Children’s Society in Aberdeen, the first adoption and fostering agency to help a single, gay man in Scotland to adopt a child, is working in partnership with organisations across Scotland to raise awareness.

Adoptions by same sex couples in Scotland became possible over ten years ago, in 2009, when The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 came into force.

According to the latest statistics from the National Records of Scotland there were 155 same sex adoptions by the end of 2018: 110 by same sex male couples and 45 by same sex female couples.

In Aberdeen, an event will be held at the Cheerz Bar today to raise awareness, in conjunction with local LGBT+ charity Four Pillars.

Deejay Bullock, community relations manager at the charity, said: “We are thrilled to work in partnership with St Andrew’s Children’s Society to promote LGBT+ adoption and fostering.

“We feel it’s important every child gets an option of a loving family unit and that their guardians marital status, sexual orientation or gender should never be an issue.”

Stephen Small, the director of St Andrew’s Children’s Society added: “I am so pleased that this year we are able to build on the success of our 2019 campaign during LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week.

“The partnerships we have made within the community and the people who have approached us with their interest in providing loving, safe homes to children has been tremendous.”

For further information email taramcgregor@standrews-children.org.uk or visit the St Andrew’s Children’s Society website and Facebook.