Vince’s Story

"My family consists of me, my son and my labradoodle Sydney. My little boy is very nearly four, and whilst our little setup is still unique to modern day, it works perfectly well.

For me, it has always been important to champion single parenting from an adoption point of view. Whilst it has been common place in the “straight” world for sometime now, it has been more of a struggle for LGBT+ people to be recognised as capable and able to parent alone. If being part of this project encourages at least one person to adopt, then that’s one less child sat waiting for love.

My biggest struggle for sure was the process. Unbelievably in 2017 I still had to jump more hoops than the straight person next to me, and I had more to prove given my lifestyle and work. The pressure to succeed was immense and that was something I quickly had to learn to put to one side. My biggest achievement is proving those that said I couldn’t do it wrong. I have raised a very happy, polite and loving young boy whilst juggling a rather hectic work single handily….I still have to think about that sometimes and not be too hard on myself.

I hope it shows that love is just that…love!! Pictures do not talk or show mannerisms, so I would love someone who perhaps doesn’t agree with same sex parenting to look at it not knowing who I am, or what I am about and just think, 'They adore each other'. That to me is what parenting should be about. Love without the labels attached.

I hope it shows that families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and we are all focused on the one goal….to raise children to love and respect others. The gender, identity or sexual preference of the parent does not stop that goal."