Adopt London Fun Day 2026 – bringing families together
On a glorious sunny Saturday in June, nearly 190 adoptive families from across London gathered for the first Adopt London Fun Day.
The event welcomed hundreds of children and parents, alongside up to 100 staff members from across our London Regional teams, and a fantastic range of partners, all helping to create a truly special afternoon for London’s adoption community.
From the moment families arrived, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. There was something for everyone, regardless of their age or energy level. Brave climbers tackled the towering 30-foot climbing wall, adventurous families raced through the giant 100-foot inflatable obstacle course, and a colourful stilt-walker brought plenty of magic and smiles as they roamed the grounds. London’s Queens Park Rangers community team and Girl’s United provided football-based fun, while Greenhouse Sports brought tennis and other multisport activities.
Face painting and henna artists were kept busy throughout the day, transforming little faces and hands into works of art, while parents enjoyed the chance to relax, connect and spend time together in the summer sunshine.
For those seeking a calmer pace, the Quiet Zone proved a huge hit. Visitors got up close with an amazing collection of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, offering curious children and adults alike the opportunity to learn, explore and overcome a few fears.
Meanwhile, the Grow Zone encouraged budding gardeners to get their hands dirty by planting sunflower seedlings to take home. While we’re not entirely sure how many made it safely back across London, we hope everyone enjoyed the planting process!
Beyond the activities, the day was about something much deeper: connection, belonging and celebration. For many families, it offered a rare opportunity to be surrounded by others who share similar experiences and understand the unique joys and challenges of adoption.
One parent reflected:
“It’s good for my son to meet other adopted kids. He was amazed how many kids are adopted in London.”
Other families spoke about the importance of feeling seen, understood and celebrated.
“It’s the only time we are able to exclusively be around other families that look and feel like us and a good opportunity to talk to our children about adoption, normalise it and celebrate ….”
Another reflection came from a family who captured the true spirit of the day:
“…. the children absolutely loved it! How precious for them to see a whole field of children who are also adopted, and I’m sure that will be significant as they grow and understand more. For us, it was great to meet or catch up with other adopters, and to chat with people who ‘get it’. And it was a very happy surprise to see our assessing social worker and family finding social worker there.”
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, supplied activities and helped make the day possible. Together, you created a joyful space where families could connect, and everyone could be reminded that they are part of something bigger.
There’s lots to think about for a follow-up but we can’t wait to do it all again in 2027. ☀️🎈🌻