THURROCK Council is once again celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT+) Fostering and Adoption week, which is between Monday 2 and Sunday 8 March, raising awareness that sexuality is not a barrier to fostering or adoption.

Everyone is welcome to contact Thurrock Fostering or Adoption to find out more, whether they are in a relationship, already have children, are single and whatever their sexuality.

Cllr Sue Little, Cabinet Member for Children and Adult Social Care, said: "Thurrock Fostering and Thurrock Adoption welcome people from all backgrounds and are proud to embrace and support diversity within the community. Any LGBT+ residents who are hesitant about their journey to foster or adopt should be delighted to know that both teams will support them fully throughout the process as individual or as a couple."

A same sex couple who recently became adopters with the council, said: "We found the whole process working with Thurrock Adoption manageable and enjoyable. The service were really helpful and there was no bias towards our sexual orientation. There has been a lot of thinking, processing and reflection but we feel this has prepared us fully for our journey together."

The council's next Adoption Open Evening is on Monday, 30 March, 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Orsett Hall Hotel, RM16 3HS. For more information on becoming an adopter with Thurrock click on the red information button below or call the team on 0800 652 1271.

There are a number of fostering information events and open evenings taking place throughout March, to find out more visit www.thurrock.gov.uk/fostering or call the team on 0800 652 1256.