News
Confirmation received that the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will be continuing for the financial year April 2025 – March 2026.
The Children’s Minister made a statement in the Commons this afternoon (01/04/25) and we are now able to confirm that the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will be continuing for the financial year April 2025 – March 2026. We are pleased that this has been announced however exact details are yet to be shared to ensure that it reaches…
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Celebrating two decades of LGBTQ+ adoption progress
Adopt London we have been reflecting on the strides made towards equality and inclusion. In adoption, the past two decades have brought monumental change transforming the landscape for LGBTQ+ adopters, breaking down barriers, and ensuring that children find the loving families they deserve. This week we look back at the successes of the last two decades, acknowledge some of the…
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The Notional SEN budget for mainstream schools
Understanding how schools allocate resources can be crucial for adoptive parents aiming to support their child’s education, especially for those who may need extra help. One significant resource available is notional funding — an annual allocation of up to £6,000 to support additional needs, sometimes on top of the Pupil Premium. Here, we’ll explain what notional funding is, how to…
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Janet Daby, Minister for Children and Families
Adopt London hosted an unforgettable staff conference, where we had the privilege of welcoming Janet Daby, Minister for Children and Families. The event focused on the powerful and uplifting work of the Black Adoption Project — a London based project committed to creating better futures for Black children in need of loving, supportive homes. Photo by jamiesmith.photo Minister for…
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The Adoption Barometer survey 2025 is now open!
Each year, Adoption UK – the leading charity for all those whose lives involve adoption, survey adopters and adopted people to help them build the case for more support. Adoption UK, which supports adopters, adoptees and the professionals that support them, has launched its annual ‘Barometer Survey’ to find out what life is really like for those involved with adoption.
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Early Permanence carers needed across London
We need adoptive parents who can take on the responsibility of becoming foster carers to a child, with the chance of going on to adopt them later, if the court decides that child should be adopted. Early Permanence (EP) is an umbrella term for a type of care planning which helps a child who needs be removed from their family…
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School Resources: Bridging The Gap
A project to support adopted children in schools. For many adopted children, school can feel challenging. The regional adoption agency Adopt London South is working with SEND practitioners, teachers, and school staff across ten South London Local Authorities and have launched a new resource to help them to understand what adopted students of all ages experience every day. This initiative…
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There’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ family.
New data released this National Adoption Week shows there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of children with a plan for adoption not yet matched with an adoptive family in England in 2023-4, compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the numbers of prospective adopters coming forward remains lower than previous years, believed to be largely due…
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LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week 2024
LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week is taking place 4-10 March 2024. Organised by New Family Social, the theme this year is ‘Different Together’ and encourages more people from the LGBTQ+ community to consider adopting or fostering. The campaign is a time to recognise and celebrate the many LGBTQ+ people who have already adopted or fostered, but it is also about…
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Black Adoption Project Launch
At the end of last year over 200 people attended online as Adopt London hosted the launch of the Black Adoption Project Report – the first of many webinars to share information on the findings of the Report and the progress of key initiative as we develop and grow. Thank you to everyone who attended and for sharing professional and…
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Adopt London Choir sing on BBC Radio London
What a wonderful morning over at the BBC Radio London studios in central London with Megan Tanner, Choir MD and 10 adoptive parents representing the Adopt London Choir on Tuesday 19 December. As part of Salma El-Wardany’s radio Breakfast Show, a choir sings at the end of each daily broadcast in the run up to Christmas. Normally meeting online, this was…
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LGBTQ+ adopters nominate four Adopt London social workers for commendation.
This summer (2023) New Family Social asked their LGBTQ+ adopter members which social workers deserved to receive a members’ commendation – to show that they’d gone above and beyond in their work. Four social workers from Adopt London received a members’ commendation. In Adopt London West, Ramona Proti and Deepti Walia received a members’ commendation. Ramona was described by one members…
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We Are Family is 10 years old
We Are Family is an independent peer support community for adoptive parents, and this year marks their 10th anniversary of providing digital and in-person support to adopters and prospective adopters. We Are Family membership is free to amongst others, all Adopt London families and removing barriers to accessing resources is at the heart of their ethos. However, they must also…
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Conversations for Change for adopters
Allow me to introduce myself – I’m Richard Orchard-Rowe, adoptive dad and founder and presenter of the podcast – Adoption Adventures. I’m reaching out to adoptive parents of Adopt London’s twenty four boroughs to invite you to join Adopt London’s Conversations for Change*. This is a new initiative to bring together the voices of all those impacted by adoption, and…
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David Johnston MP, the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing visits Adopt London West
Adopt London West received a visit from David Johnston MP, the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing on Friday 20 October 2023. Debbie Gabriel, Head of Service for Adopt London West explained “Adopt London West were delighted to welcome Children’s Minister David Johnston for tea and cakes last Friday as part of National Adoption Week. The Minister met families who…
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Adopt London Choir on BBC Breakfast
We were delighted BBC Breakfast featured the Adopt London Choir as part of National Adoption Week. Producer Alice Key discovered Adopt London choir footage on YouTube and wanted to highlight the positives around the support for Adopt London families and staff. With the knowledge and skill of Choir Lead Megan Tanner, the group meet virtually every Tuesday to share their experiences…
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Free books for Black families considering adoption
Adopt London are giving away Patricia Dopemu’s book – Help! I’m Adopting a Child to any Black African, Caribbean or mixed heritage family considering parenting a child via adoption. Have you ever been frustrated that the books you read are unrelated and don’t depict Black people that look and live like you? Maybe you can’t relate to them or don’t…
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What is adoption really like?
If you want to find out what adoption is really like, come along to one of Adopt London’s ‘Meet The Adopters’ events. These events provide the opportunity for potential adopters to hear from Adopt London’s approved adopters. You will listen to them talk openly and honestly about the assessment process, panel, matching, introductions, contact with birth family, accessing support and…
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Why do I need childcare and volunteering experience when adopting a child?
We know that it is incredibly valuable for each adopter to gain recent and relevant childcare experience. This would ideally be with children from disadvantaged backgrounds, who may have suffered adversity, but might also be with children who at times exhibit some challenging behaviour. Childcare experience demonstrates your ability to meet a child’s needs. At Adopt London we encourage you…
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Why is family contact important in adoption?
“Contact, where safe, appropriate and properly managed, can be valuable for an adoptive child, their new family and their birth family, including siblings and other relatives.” Children and Families Act 2014: A failure of implementation. Dec 2022 Your child may have strong memories and feelings about their family and past, and your child may be curious about their birth family.
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