News
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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Safer Internet Day 2023
Whilst being online can offer inspiring learning and a fun environment, this Safer Internet Day, we wanted to highlight some of the advantages of starting and maintaining conversations with your child about their internet use. Safer Internet Day 2023 is on 7 February 2023, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations…
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Adoption support with a difference – Join the choir!
At the end of this summer, statistics were released about the number of black African and black Caribbean children waiting to be adopted. Evidence was shared that many have to wait longer than other children. The reason – is that there are not enough black families who are considering adoption. This news springboarded the choir to decide on a song…
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PAC-UK launch ‘BIG CONSULT 2022’ surveys for adopted people and birth families
PAC-UK has launched the first ’BIG CONSULT’ of adopted people and birth families. They want to hear about the experiences and views of adopted people and birth families on a range of adoption issues so that their voices can be heard by the wider adoption sector, policymakers, researchers, and by each other. They want to find out what is working and…
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Helping South London kinship families face rising cost of living in the holiday period
In the run-up to Christmas, we wanted to write to you to let you know what the Kinship Hub is doing to support Kinship Carers in these increasingly difficult financial times. The cornerstone of their work has always been helping make healthy food accessible for Kinship families, and so they are constantly looking for ways to increase the ability…
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A Life Less Ordinary
No child should have to wait longer than another to be adopted and yet more than 1,000 children in England are waiting significantly longer than others to find their forever homes. These children tend to be slightly older, are brothers and sisters waiting to be adopted together, have physical or educational needs, or come from ethnic minority backgrounds. In this…
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You will be Found
“Have you ever felt like nobody was there? Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere? Have you ever felt like you could disappear? Like you could fall, and no one would hear?” If you are ever feeling sad, isolated, anxious, overwhelmed, or lost, you are not alone. Adopt London is here to listen and…
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Five Black British women talk to Black Ballad
Black Ballad, a UK based lifestyle initiative for Black women is hosting a podcast featuring five Black British women – all talking about adoption – each from their own perspective. Part of the Black Ballad Presents: The Survival Guide podcast series, host and Head of Black Ballad (BB) editor Jendella Benson talks with four adoptive mums;…
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Greenwich Adoption Services join Adopt London South
Adopt London South, hosted by Southwark Council, delivers adoption services for the London boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, Wandsworth, and is now joined by the Royal Borough of Greenwich as of Friday 1 April 2022. Adopt London South brings all of South London’s adoption experts together to provide a range of services for everyone affected…
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An interview with Tor Docherty Chief Executive at New Family Social
Adopt London spoke with Tor Docherty, Chief Executive of New Family Social, on the eve of LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week, to talk about why more LGBTQ+ people need to rule themselves in, not out, as potential adopters. Tell me a little bit about yourself and your family? I have always worked in the voluntary and charity sector in…
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Inspirational Birth Mum Poem
One birth Mum talks openly about the many ways that Family Rights Group has helped her, and others like her by encouraging and supporting them to find ways to tell their stories, and to use their voices to raise awareness. Angela Frazer Wicks has a ten-year-old daughter who has no local authority involvement whatsoever and shortly before Christmas 2020…
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Our Children – Writing the Poem
Adopt London have asked me how I wrote the poem for the animation ‘Our Children’. I’m never quite sure where my poems come from when I write them. Sometimes I sit down and they just fall out and other times it takes ages. I think this one came from all the young people in care that I have worked…
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Hello and welcome to the Adoption Shared podcast…
‘Adoption Shared’ is a series of podcasts for the adoption community. The podcasts share personal stories of adopters, as well as advice and guidance from adoption professionals. Produced by We Are Family (WAF) in partnership with Adopt London, the podcasts offer a convenient way for adopters, WAF members and the general public to listen on demand, when it’s convenient. In…
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