National Adoption Week Campaign highlights the need for more adopters

We are encouraging people in the Black Country who are considering adoption to find out more this National Adoption Week (Monday 16 – Sunday 22 October 2023).

To mark the awareness week, a national campaign has launched focusing on how adoption has changed through the decades.

It also aims to encourage potential adopters to come forward to change the lives of children who are still waiting for their forever home.

A powerful set of portraits captured by Royal Family, fashion and portrait photographer Philip Sinden – who was adopted himself in the 1970s – have been released to mark National Adoption Week. They show striking imagery of eight different people who were adopted between the 1960s and the 2010s.

Meanwhile, a new short film captured during the photoshoot hears first hand the group’s different experiences – challenging misconceptions about what adoption looks like today.

Each individual’s story brings to life how adoption has shaped, and continues to shape, their lives and highlights how adoption has changed over the years.

Whilst recognising the challenges they have faced along the way, the campaign brings to life the transformational power of a permanent family home.

There is still a huge need for more people to come forward to adopt, with a 23% decline in the proportion of children leaving care via adoption over the last five years – last year, 2,950 children left care via adoption, 900 less than in 2018.

The latest data shows there are 2,110 children waiting to be adopted from care, including over 60 children in Black Country boroughs.

Locally, there is a particular need to find adopters that can offer safe, loving and permanent homes to those repeatedly facing the longest delays in finding a family, including children aged five or over, children with additional and/or complex needs, brother and sister groups, and those from some ethnic minority backgrounds. Children from these groups typically wait an average of seven months longer to be adopted than other children.

Simon Green, Adoption@Heart Head of Service, said: “Adoption is a fantastic outcome for many children. We are one of the leading adoption agencies in the country and here to support families wishing to adopt in the Black Country.

“A dedicated team of social workers are ready to support you at every stage of your adoption journey, and they are waiting for your call.

“If you or anyone you know is interested in finding out more about adoption, please get in touch to find out more.

“Whether you are ready to take your first step or are simply looking to find out more information at this point, we welcome anyone that is interested to get in touch or to attend one of our regular information events.”

People that are interested in finding out more about the adoption process are invited to an information event to find out more and get their questions answered.

Adoption@Heart hold information events at least twice a month with the next sessions being held at 12pm on Thursday 19 October (online) and at 6:30pm on Monday 23 October in Halesowen. Bookings can be made online by visiting www.adoptionatheart.org.uk

For more information about adoption, how to access adoption support, or to enquire about becoming an adopter, contact Adoption@Heart by calling 01902 553818 or emailing info@adoptionatheart.org.uk.

Sarah Johal, member of the National Adoption Recruitment Steering Group and National Adoption Strategic lead, said: “This campaign shares the individual stories of people who have been adopted across the generations.

“Adoption has changed over the years and originally this was shrouded in secrecy and sometimes adopted children were not told about being adopted. When children cannot be safely cared for within their birth or extended family, adoption provides the security and permanence for children to help them thrive as adults.

“Nowadays, most children are adopted from care, and they have life story work to help them understand their history and many have ongoing connections with their birth family”.

To find out more about National Adoption Week or to seek information or support, visit www.youcanadopt.co.uk/NAW2023.