Is the UK going through an adoption crisis?

Adoption agency Adoption Focus is calling for urgent attention on what Chief Executive Officer Anna Sharkey has described as ‘an adoption crisis’ that no one is talking about. This is ahead of National Adoption Week 2025 (October 20–26).

Adoption Focus say across the UK more and more children are waiting for adoptive families, and fewer people are coming forward. These are children who have already experienced loss, trauma, and instability, and the charity says they deserve the chance of a permanent, loving home.

A new campaign from Adoption Focus, launching in November, will bring the experiences of children still waiting for families into sharper focus, asking the public one simple question: how long is too long to wait?

Aston spoke to Anna Sharkey, CEO of Adoption Focus.