You Don’t Need a Perfect Home – Just a Welcome One

As National Adoption Week (20–26th October 2025) begins, Adopt London is supporting a new campaign that gently challenges the idea that prospective adopters need to have the ‘perfect’ home or circumstances to adopt.

New research from You Can Adopt reveals that nearly nine in ten adoptive parents (86%) were worried they wouldn’t meet the criteria because their home wasn’t ideal. Yet the reality is very different. Many adopters live in rented accommodation, don’t have gardens, and live in modest-sized homes. What matters most is the ability to provide love, stability and a sense of belonging.

“You’ll never feel completely ready to be a parent – but if your heart is open to it, don’t hold back. There’s no perfect setup, just love, patience and resilience. Our home may not be the biggest, but it’s full of warmth, joy, and enough love to go around – and that’s what truly matters.” Tracy & Giulio, adoptive parents to their son.

At a time when adoption enquiries are falling – with 12% fewer families coming forward nationally compared to last year – this campaign aims to reassure and encourage more people to explore adoption. In the London alone, there are 290 London children in need of adoption.

The campaign, titled ‘Perfectly Imperfect’, features a heart warming installation called A Welcome Home, co-created by adoptive families. It celebrates the everyday spaces where families bond – especially the kitchen, often described as the heart of the home. From pancake pans to disco balls, each item in the installation tells a story of connection, love and belonging. Watch the film here.

Prue Leith, an adoptive mother and grandmother to adopted children, helped curate the installation and said:

“When I adopted my daughter, it was in the kitchen that we bonded most, over meals, mess and everyday life. Now she’s adopted children of her own – so I’m really pleased to have been a part of bringing ‘A Welcome Home’ to life. It’s about showing that – just like any kind of parenting – adoption is messy, joyful, challenging, real, and rewarding beyond measure. Adoption gives a child a place at the table, and that’s where love truly grows.”

At Adopt London, we understand that many people worry they won’t be ‘ready’ or ‘enough’ to adopt. But we want to reassure you: there is no such thing as a perfect home, only a welcoming one.

Adoption isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about opening your home, and your heart, to the possibility. The adoption process is there to guide, prepare and support you and ensure that this is the right decision.

If you’ve ever wondered about giving a child a place to call home – even just a little – we invite you to get in touch for a friendly, no-pressure conversation. Speaking to your local adoption agency is a great way to learn more and ask questions. Or sign up to one of our many online adoption information events to find out more about modern adoption – the children waiting and the adoption process.#YouCanAdopt