​You Can Adopt: Call for families as children waiting outnumber adopters 2 to 1

A national week of action is urging anyone who has ever considered adopting to step forward as the number of children needing loving, nurturing homes continues to grow.

A report published by the Government shows that the North West has nearly 3 times as many children awaiting adoptive families as there are adopters. The figures, based on the latest data reveals the region currently has 630 children waiting to be adopted and 240 families approved to adopt.

Top North West based agency, Adoption Now is supporting the National Adoption Week campaign, from 14th – 20th October, in a bid to encourage people in Bury to step forward and find out more about adopting local children who are waiting for safe and loving homes.

Karen Barrick, Head of Service at Adoption Now, said: “This report highlights the ongoing and urgent need to find adoptive families for children who desperately need them. Adoption transforms the lives of those it touches and this National Adoption Week we’re asking anyone who has ever thought about adoption to find out more. Whether you’re married, single, gay or heterosexual, don’t rule yourself out, if you think you might be able to give a vulnerable child a loving home, please get in touch”.

Children waiting for adoption come from a variety of backgrounds, from sibling groups to children with additional emotional or health needs, those from minority ethnic backgrounds and those just that little bit older.

The latest statistics from the Adoption & Special Guardianship Leadership Board (ASGLB)** reveals that of the children waiting adoption:

● 27% are aged over 5 years

● 2% have a disability

● 15% are from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds

● 59% are in sibling groups

Adoption Now is looking for adopters for around 90 children in their care but specificallly for those children above who unfortunately, can wait longer to find their families.

During National Adoption Week the Adoption Now team will be at Bury Market on Wednesday 16 October (10am to 1pm) to answer any questions residents have about the adoption process and the children in local authority care.

The team will also be available to answer any questions you might have during a Live Facebook Messenger Chat on Wednesday 16 October from 6pm to 8pm.

Councillor Rhyse Cathcart, Bury Council’s deputy cabinet member for children and families, said: “Children who come to adoption do so because their birth families are unable to care for them. Many of them have experienced difficult starts in life. All of these children need a loving, stable home. They need support and love to help them overcome their troubled backgrounds, make sense of who they are and grow up to be safe and secure. Being an adoptive parent can be challenging but it also brings great rewards. If you’re interested in finding out more, please contact Adoption Now today.“

For more information about adoption in Bury, contact Adoption Now on 01204 336096 or visit www.adoptionnow.org.uk

ENDS

Issued: 14 October 2019.

Notes to Editors

Adoption Now is a Regional Adoption Agency delivering adoption services for Blackburn with Darwen, Bury, Bolton, Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside councils.For further information please contact the Adoption Now Marketing and Recruitment Officer on 01204 336094 or at marketing@adoptionnow.org.uk

*The National Recruitment steering group is made up of representatives from statutory and voluntary adoption agencies together with CVAA, Adoption UK, Coram-BAAF and First4Adoption. This is a new and exciting approach seeking to reinforce the continuing priority of recruiting a sufficient pool of adopters and promoting the routes that prospective adopters can take in approaching adoption agencies from across the sector. https://www.first4adoption.org.uk/nationaladoptionweek/naw-steering-group/

**The Adoption Leadership Board (ALB) was established in 2014 to provide leadership to the adoption system and drive improvements in performance https://coram-i.org.uk/asglb/

National Adoption Week runs from 14th - 20th October 2019 https://www.first4adoption.org.uk/nationaladoptionweek

First4Adoption is the national information service for adoption in England. Visit our website www.first4adoption.org.uk, follow us on Twitter and Facebook