Advertise on podcast: Adoption, Fostering & Tea: The New Family Social Podcast

Stuart and Bradley return to the podcast to tell us how the first year has been with their son.  They talk about attachment, nursery, bonding over time and how thrilled they are to be his parents.  

Seren is an asexual, single adopter.  She has Complex PTSD due to her abusive childhood.  After years of mental health problems, she reached the end of her NHS therapy and tried to take her own life.  She was able to access more therapy which is how she realised what happiness could feel like and how she knew she wanted to adopt.  Initially, her agency didn't think she was ready but she wasn't deterred and eventually began the journey which led her to adopter a brother and sister.  She talks about how parenting her children has made her "the happiest and most fulfilled I've ever been" and how she manages triggers and challenges. If you need someone to talk to, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit their webpage Samaritans

Stuart and Simon return, having featured on two previous podcasts.  They talk about their kids' additional needs and the laborious process of securing support for them.  They also talk about joyful family moments, including taking their Disney princess on a rollercoaster! Previous episode here  

George and Stuart were approved for Early Permanence and picked up a newborn baby less than two weeks later. They talk about their straightforward assessment, contact with the birth family, and why a super-kingsize bed should be on your must-buy list!  

Alex and Peter adopted a six-year-old after being turned down for another child.  They talk about their assessment and matching process, the attachment therapy that changed everything, and why they hope others will consider older children.

Vivienne has been a foster carer for eight years.  An eight month old baby called Bill was placed with her, initially for just a week, but he ended up staying for nearly two years.  In the meantime, in another part of the country, Carlos and his partner were talking about adopting.  They had a bad experience with their first agency but changed to another and were approved.  Browsing Linkmaker, they saw Bill's profile and hoped he might be the child for them.  On this podcast, Vivienne and Carlos talk about how their paths met when Carlos adopted Bill.

Emily and Jude  have completed their assessment process and have just seven days until panel.  They're hoping to be approved as early permanence carers for a baby under a year old.  Emily talks about how they decided on adoption and what they learnt as volunteers at New Family Social's Summer Camp (including mud pie recipes!). Emily talked about how she listened to other episodes of this podcast to help her decide whether she could cope with the uncertainty of early permanence.    

Fay talks about adopting her two-year-old son after three rounds of IVF, including one miscarriage.  She had heard about how much longer black children wait for adoptive families and felt that adoption would be the right way to parenthood for her.  Family life has brought Fay and her wife so much happiness and she talks about the importance of play and the need for patience!

Monty and his husband were approved for Early Permanence and had a tiny baby placed with them.  Just a couple of months later, they were asked if they'd adopt the baby's older sibling.  Monty talks about delays in their assessment process, becoming a parent twice in less than six months, and how much joy their children have brought them.   Monty recommends this book: Undertaking an adoption assessment in England

Oliver returns to the podcast to talk about how he navigated the adoption process (including some ill-informed questions) as a bisexual man.  He discusses his journey to positively identify as bisexual, and also brings us up-to-date on life with his four-year-old son.   Their previous podcast can be found here Episode 97

This episode of Adoption, Fostering and Tea was recorded live at our annual summer camp for LGBTQ adoption and fostering families, taking questions from our audience.

Robin and James were in their late 40s when they decided it was time to adopt.  They talk about how they overcame the negative messages they'd received, as children, about gay people.  They discuss their decision to adopt an older child, why they'd recommend this to others, and how they helped their son when he faced homophobic bullying.

Archie was diagnosed as autistic during the adoption assessment process.  Tor and Archie talk about what it's like to learn you're autistic and the strengths it brings the as parents.

Carlos has wanted children since he was 17.  He started researching adoption in his mid-twenties and, ten years later, he's stuck in stage one but excited about his future as a single adopter for one or two children.

Charlie and Ben had said they felt unable to take a child with complex medical needs but when their daughter was born and taken straight to intensive care, they knew they wanted to make it work.  They talk about early contact sessions and the toll they took.  They also talk about their family's delight in meeting the new baby and how much joy she's brought into their lives.