Latest news with #LucyChapman
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
West Midlands LGBTQ+ adults and others urged to foster children
More people are being urged to consider fostering in the West Midlands as, according to the charity The Fostering Network, there is an urgent need for 630 more carers in the one example, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are being urged to consider filling the gap. Kimberly and Lucy Chapman, from Shifnal, Shropshire, have been fostering together for seven years and said they were worried they might be judged for being gay but described the fostering community as welcoming and accepting."There are lots of highs and lots of lows but we really love fostering," said Kimberly. "I couldn't imagine doing anything else." The couple, who mainly do long-term fostering, are currently caring for four foster children under the age of five, including a newborn baby."It's extremely full on but we're having a blast," she 42, who has two biological children, began fostering as a single mother, inspired by her own parents who fostered for 21 the couple met two years later, Lucy went through the assessment process and they started fostering have fostered 15 children and enjoy taking them on holiday, shopping and teaching them to ride admit the hardest part is letting the children go: "It's incredibly difficult to say goodbye." There are no official figures on the number of foster carers who identify as LGBTQ+, but a survey by the agency Compass Fostering estimated it was 7%.Lucy believed having an LGBTQ+ background could be an asset in being a foster carer."The majority of people coming out will have experienced rejection from their family, even homelessness, and I think a lot of children in foster care have experienced exactly the same thing," she fostering agency the couple work with, Family Care Group, said its main drive was to get more people from the LGBTQ+ community to think about becoming foster Sandhu, from the agency, said the fostering process did not make assumptions about sexuality or gender identity."It's about being compassionate and having a welcoming home to offer," she and Lucy urged other gay couples who are thinking about adoption to give fostering a go first."There's a million reasons why people think you can't foster but you absolutely can, you just need a spare room and an open heart". John Cargill, a single male foster carer who lives in Worcester, also wanted to change perceptions about who could foster."Nobody thinks of a single male as being the primary carer but there are lots of them out there, they're just unsung heroes," he 67-year-old retiree decided he wanted to become a foster carer after the Covid pandemic."I was rattling around this lovely little Victorian semi and thought that was a bit selfish and that maybe I should be sharing what I have with someone else," he has been a respite foster carer with Worcestershire Fostering for 18 months, looking after teenagers for up to a week so their primary caregivers can have a break."When they come to me, it's like a little holiday for them because some of these kids come from quite traumatic and neglectful backgrounds," he said. Mr Cargill, who does not have birth children of his own, said he tried to pass on important skills to the young people he looked after, such as cooking and he said he also enjoyed getting involved in their hobbies. Although he found it challenging doing it on his own, he said he enjoyed it so much that he planned to carry on doing it for as long as he was physically able. He urged others considering a career in foster care not to be put off by societal expectations."Gender doesn't matter, sexuality doesn't matter, your background, your class, your education doesn't matter. Kids just want to be understood and looked after," he Pollock, from Worcestershire Fostering, said they have more than 1,000 children in the county who needed a said they were looking for a range of carers, with some children benefiting from having a single carer like Mr Cargill and other children needing a busy said they wanted to get away from the idea that you have to be superhuman or a superhero to foster a child."We just want people who can cook a bit of spag bol, put a meal on the table and just have capacity to love and accept a child," she said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
North Wales Live
06-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to debut deeply moving Garden at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2025
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is preparing to reveal a profoundly touching show garden at BBC Gardeners' World Live in June 2025. The charity's Medicinal Garden is designed as a living homage to the lifesaving work of the charity and its positive influence on patients' recovery, making it more than just a source of horticultural inspiration. The garden will be showcased at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2025, scheduled to take place at the NEC in Birmingham from June 12-15. It has been designed by Lucy Chapman and Helen Swan, and will be constructed by renowned Pershore-based landscaper Rupert Keys. Emma Gray, Chief Operating Officer for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, expressed her pride in being part of BBC Gardeners' World Live this year and is looking forward to welcoming visitors and supporters in June. The charity is most recognised for providing treatment through their rapid response helicopters and critical care cars. This is why, Emma explains, their Medicinal Garden emphasises emotional recovery. "Our Medicinal Garden places emotional recovery at its heart, acknowledging that for many patients, survivors, families, and crew, the impact trauma and medical emergencies have on patients,' she said. "The garden was never just about beauty," added co-designer Helen Swan. "It's about honesty. We have created a space that acknowledges patients' trauma, yet also reflects the strength that can be drawn from life-changing experiences and the role nature can play in rebuilding lives. " "People often underestimate how healing it can be to simply sit among trees and feel the sun warming a bench. After trauma, that connection with the outdoors can be transformational." Visitors to the eagerly awaited BBC Gardeners' World Live event, which draws in over 90,000 attendees, will be welcomed into the immersive show garden. They'll follow a winding path that gently slices between two rising mounds, symbolising the journey from crisis to tranquillity. Seating areas situated at the heart of the journey provide spots for visitors to pause and reflect. Native trees border the garden, filtering views and offering a sense of protection and perspective. Lucy Chapman, a fellow designer, commented: "For us, the garden reflects not just Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's emergency response, but our understanding of the emotional recovery that follows. "The feedback we hear from those the service has helped is often about small things, being able to walk again, hear birdsong, and feel rooted in life once more. The garden embodies this." After its debut at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2025, parts of the garden will be permanently moved to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's airbase and charity headquarters in Shifnal, Shropshire at a later date. To support the charity's lifesaving work or learn more, visit or join the conversation by following the charity on social media.
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to debut deeply moving Garden at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2025
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is preparing to reveal a profoundly touching show garden at BBC Gardeners' World Live in June 2025. The charity's Medicinal Garden is designed as a living homage to the lifesaving work of the charity and its positive influence on patients' recovery, making it more than just a source of horticultural inspiration. The garden will be showcased at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2025, scheduled to take place at the NEC in Birmingham from June 12-15. It has been designed by Lucy Chapman and Helen Swan, and will be constructed by renowned Pershore-based landscaper Rupert Keys. Emma Gray, Chief Operating Officer for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, expressed her pride in being part of BBC Gardeners' World Live this year and is looking forward to welcoming visitors and supporters in June. The charity is most recognised for providing treatment through their rapid response helicopters and critical care cars. This is why, Emma explains, their Medicinal Garden emphasises emotional recovery. "Our Medicinal Garden places emotional recovery at its heart, acknowledging that for many patients, survivors, families, and crew, the impact trauma and medical emergencies have on patients,' she said. (Image: Midlands Air Ambulance) "The garden was never just about beauty," added co-designer Helen Swan. "It's about honesty. We have created a space that acknowledges patients' trauma, yet also reflects the strength that can be drawn from life-changing experiences and the role nature can play in rebuilding lives. " "People often underestimate how healing it can be to simply sit among trees and feel the sun warming a bench. After trauma, that connection with the outdoors can be transformational." Visitors to the eagerly awaited BBC Gardeners' World Live event, which draws in over 90,000 attendees, will be welcomed into the immersive show garden. They'll follow a winding path that gently slices between two rising mounds, symbolising the journey from crisis to tranquillity. Seating areas situated at the heart of the journey provide spots for visitors to pause and reflect. Native trees border the garden, filtering views and offering a sense of protection and perspective. (Image: Midlands Air Ambulance) Lucy Chapman, a fellow designer, commented: "For us, the garden reflects not just Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's emergency response, but our understanding of the emotional recovery that follows. "The feedback we hear from those the service has helped is often about small things, being able to walk again, hear birdsong, and feel rooted in life once more. The garden embodies this." After its debut at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2025, parts of the garden will be permanently moved to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's airbase and charity headquarters in Shifnal, Shropshire at a later date. To support the charity's lifesaving work or learn more, visit or join the conversation by following the charity on social media.
