Adopt London North Support
Whatever your connection to adoption, we know the impact is lifelong. We know there are challenges for adopters, adopted children and adults and birth family members. The Adopt London North (ALN) team are here to support you.
ALN contact details
If you are an adoptive family living in any of the Adopt London North boroughs; Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey or Islington, or your child was adopted from any of these boroughs, please contact us and we can discuss the support available. You will be able to speak with a social worker who will assess your needs and signpost you to the right support.
We’ll contact you for more information to ensure we provide the best service and/or signpost you to the right support.
Scroll down to see the support available from Adopt London North.
Email: [email protected] Call 020 7527 4777 (select Option Two)
Historic adoption records/intermediary: [email protected]
Letterbox: [email protected]
Support for adoptive families
As soon as your child comes to live with you, you’ll have access to a range of services and support from the ALN team, your local borough and the partners we work with. You can join organisations and meet other adoptive families, access specialists, education experts and a range of resources. Read our Adopt London North support booklet for more information.
Telephone advice – Life Story Work – If you prefer telephone support, we have monthly life story work sessions. These sessions are available for you if you are parents wanting to expand your child’s Life Story Book, or talk to your child about their early life. Whether you are just starting or continuing work with your child, our morning 1-2-1 sessions can help. Contact the team to find out more. The Life Story Work Advice line is a 20 minute telephone call with a dedicated social worker to discuss your child’s life story. The next session is 6 July 2026.
To book your 20 minute call, please email [email protected] – include your name and contact telephone number with Advice Line in the heading. We will contact you to confirm your day/time slot and Natalie will call you on the day.
Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) – Some adopted children will have experienced early trauma, or need support in understanding their thoughts and feelings around adoption. The ASGSF helps to financially enable families access to a variety of therapeutic support. This can involve play therapy, art therapy, family therapy or talking therapy for example, with the goal of supporting adopted children to better understand themselves and improve their well-being and relationships.
Support from our partners – Adopt London North work with a range of organisations who support adoptive families. These adoption-focused organisations may offer meet ups in person or online events, podcasts and resources to support your family. To find out more, visit Our Partners.
Support for adopted children
Black Adoption Project social groups. For Black and mixed Black heritage children, the Project team host two groups (age dependent) for children and young people, every month on a Saturday. Our fantastic youth centre venue is based in the Hackney/Old Street area. To find out find out more and sign up your child, just visit the Black Adoption Project’s Activities for Young People‘s page. We’re planning fun events and days out to support our children and young people in identity and adoption.
ALN Kids and Teens groups. A regular meet up for all children connected to our North London boroughs. We meet in a private space – an adventure park – every other Saturday. Two groups, also age dependent and packed with activities our children can do with their peers. From pizza making and graffiti workshops to football and arts and crafts – there’s something for everyone. And all the children attending and some of our volunteer team are adopted. They can talk about adoption … or not! It’s just a great place to meet and make new friends. Email [email protected] for lots more information and to sign up.
Adoption booklets and guides for children and young people
Supporting children in understanding adoption is important, as are their feelings about being adopted. We’ve produced some information that can be shared with children. Omar The Owl covers what it means to move to another family, the process of adoption and helping children acknowledge how they might be feeling.
We have also produced two adoption support booklets that explain the support available and who to contact if children want help in understanding their feelings around being adopted:
A Children’s Guide to Adoption Support – suitable for young primary school-aged children.
A Young Person’s Guide to Adoption Support for older children.
Support for adoptees
As an adopted adult, you may want to know more about your early life, the reasons you came into care or the circumstances around your adoption. We can support you with accessing your birth/adoption records and signpost you to organisations who specialise in intermediary services, tracing birth family members, counselling and trying to get in contact with birth family members, if that is what you want to do. There is a range of support available to you, from the Adopted Adults page on this website and from the ALN support team.
Transition to Adulthood – Come along and meet other adopted young people in London. If you are aged 18-24, come and join this group who meet monthly at a venue near London Bridge. Read our flyer for more information and to sign up.
Adopted adults group – Would you like to meet other adopted adults? Why not come and join our friendly and welcoming group for adopted adults in north London. Read our Adopted adults group flyer to find out more, and how you can sign up.
Transracial Adult Adoptee Network (TAAN) is an independent network and support group for adult transracial adoptees. Co-founders Debbie and Fran set up the group for regular meet-ups in North London. If you are a transracial adoptee and are aged 18 or over, you are welcome to attend. You will meet other adoptees, have an opportunity to share experiences or you can just listen in. Email the team on [email protected] to find out more and to book your place. Dates for 2026 are 25 June, 10 September, 29 October and 10 December.
Support for birth families
Navigating the loss of a child to adoption can be challenging for many birth parents and birth relatives. It is common for this process to evoke strong and complicated feelings. Whether the local authority decided adoption was in your child’s best interest or you made an adoption plan yourself, ALN is here to support you through your journey.
Our experienced social workers can offer advice, help you with existing or new contact arrangements, help you to write letters for letterbox contact, or signpost you to organisations that offer a listening ear or short-term counselling services. When your child becomes an adult, ALN also can help you to make contact with them and support you through the reunion process.
Advice and counselling for birth parents and birth relatives – If you would like to talk to someone about your adoption loss, access short-term counselling, get information about the adoption process, or connect with other birth parents, PAC-UK can help. If you are a birth parent who is involved in court proceedings and you are worried you may lose your child to adoption, you are entitled to advice and counselling. PAC-UK also support birth relatives. Please see their contact details below.
PAC-UK & FamilyConnect
PAC-UK is a charity organisation that supports people through the realities of adoption and other forms of permanent care. Formerly ‘Post Adoption Centre’, the PAC-UK team provides specialist, trauma-informed support for all parties affected by adoption.
Dealing with the impact of adoption is a life-long journey for first families, guardians, adopters and adopted people, and we know how hard it can be. Many of the services they offer are co-designed, co-produced and co-delivered, so that they best reflect and meet the needs of those with lived experience.
National PAC-UK Advice Line
The National PAC-UK Advice Line provides independent, confidential advice and information for people affected by adoption, special guardianship and other forms of permanent care. The service is staffed by qualified and experienced PAC-UK counsellors and social workers with specialist expertise in these areas. Visit the PAC-UK website or you can contact the PAC-UK Advice Line on 0300 1800 090 (opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am-4pm and Thursday 10am-7.30pm) and you can email [email protected]
PAC-UK FamilyConnect Advice Line
Delivered by Family Action’s adoption support agency PAC-UK, FamilyConnect provides information, support and guidance on tracing and reconnecting with family members, the services available, and whether you may be eligible for funding. Visit the FamilyConnect website or please call 0300 1800 205 (opening times: Monday 3 – 6pm, Tuesday 11am to 2pm and Thursday 1 – 7pm) and you can email [email protected]
Do you want to speak to someone?
Let us help you to find the advice you need