Potential adopters urged to come forward during National Adoption Week

National Adoption Week takes place from 12–18 October making it the ideal time for anyone considering adoption to come forward and take the next step.

There are still several myths about the type of person who can adopt but the key attribute is being able to provide a stable and loving home to a child or children. Age, being single, sexual orientation, house size and occupation are not barriers to adoption. 

Essex Adoption Service would particularly like to encourage people from diverse backgrounds to come forward. Statistics show that black and mixed heritage children often wait the longest to find an adoptive family. There is also a particular need for adopters for older children, sibling groups and children with disabilities. 

Last year Essex Adoption Service approved 66 families for adoption and matched 60 children with their adoptive families. Of the 66 families approved, 17 adopters were from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds and 13 adopters came from the LGBTQ+ community.

Felicity is a single adopter from Essex who recently adopted a child with additional needs. She said:

“My wonderful little lady joined our family when she was six years old. She is kind, clever and cheeky – the very best!  Like many six-year olds in need of a forever family, our gorgeous little lady was classed as harder to place. She has additional needs (what child doesn’t) and was ‘old’!

“When ‘little lady’ read in her life story book that older children wait longer for their perfect forever family she looked at me and said, ‘but I’m very little!’  She was devastated when she realised that a six-year old might be seen as too old to adopt. 

“Little lady loves being fed, being carried, singing nursery rhymes and being rocked on my lap.  She also loves singing cheeky songs about wiggly bums and making jokes about her stinky teachers!  We have shared so many ‘firsts’ together and have so many more to come.  She is the absolute centre of our family and we all totally adore her.  Don’t be afraid to consider adopting a child classed as ‘old’ or ‘harder to place’.  Children over four and those with additional needs are so wonderful and so very little!”

Councillor Louise McKinlay, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families said:

“People from all types of backgrounds can and do adopt. What is important is that you have the time, personal skills and commitment to adopt a child who will have experienced a difficult start in life. National Adoption Week is a great opportunity to find out more information so please visit the website or get in touch and find out if adoption could be for you.”

Anyone interested in adoption should contact Essex Adoption Service at www.essexadoptionandfostering.co.uk or call 0800 801 530

For advice and support for black adopters visit 
https://www.youcanadopt.co.uk/blackadopters/