National Adoption Week Campaign highlights the need for more adopters

The regional adoption agency for the Black Country, Adoption@Heart are encouraging people in the region who are considering adoption to find out more this National Adoption Week (21-27th October).

This National Adoption Week, we’re showcasing adoption journeys of all kinds, and the important people who are there along the way, as part of this year’s You Can Adopt campaign The Journey.

The campaign raises awareness of modern adoption and showcases the diversity of adoptive families today, showing that the journey to a family is not always a traditional one.

This is reflected in new data commissioned for National Adoption Week, which shows 65 per cent of Brits say there is no such thing as a ‘normal’ family and 42 per cent come from a ‘non-traditional’ family structure.

The campaign will show adopters that they are not alone by highlighting the people who play a significant role in each family’s lifelong journey and makes each experience unique – from foster carers and social workers to birth families and the adoption community.

To mark the theme of ‘The Journey’ a new short film, set onboard a train, follows the stories of three adoptive families on their travels, reflecting on the ups, downs and detours of their lifelong journey.

Rachel, who features in the film alongside her two-year-old adopted daughter Winnie, father Daniel and social worker Becky, said: “You have an idea in your head of what family looks like, and for us it’s been different, but even more wonderful in different ways. For me, it’s really important that Winnie has a sense of herself and her identity – that she understands that not only do all families look different, but she has more than one family, and that’s OK.”

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: “National Adoption Week is a crucial moment to raise awareness and highlight the importance of adoption. At Adoption@Heart, we are committed to supporting both adoptive families and children throughout their adoption journey, ensuring that every child can grow up in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment.

This week serves as a reminder of the incredible impact that adoption can have, not only for the children, but for the families who open their hearts and homes to them.

We encourage anyone considering adoption to contact us, learn more about the process, the support available, and the life-changing difference they can make”.

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 10am on Saturday 9th November and (online) and at 6:00pm on Monday 25th November in Oldbury. Bookings can be made online.

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.