About the Children
Our children come from a range of different ethnicities and backgrounds, are all ages and each one needs a forever home. That could be your home. Some may have special needs or disabilities; others may face challenges later in their life. They may have had a tough start in life, but with warmth and understanding we hope they’ll be able to go on and develop the confidence to make strong relationships, and enjoy a happy childhood.
What they need
Most children who need adoptive families have been removed from their birth families by the courts because their parents and wider families were unable to provide the care they need.
The children will have suffered loss and separation in their young lives, even when adopted shortly after birth. Many have lived through experiences of neglect and abuse and subsequently develop coping mechanisms and behaviour that means they find it more difficult to form relationships.
What the children all have in common is that they have had unsettled and sometimes traumatic experiences and need adoptive parents that can bring special qualities to their young lives.
Liz SimonAdoptive parent
The children waiting
We always need adopters for the following groups of children and will prioritise your assessment if you are willing to be considered for any of these children.
Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) children
The number of children in care from black, minority ethnic and transracial backgrounds is increasing each year. We are always in desperate need of adoptive parents to give safe and loving homes to these children. If you are considering adopting an African, Caribbean, Asian or mixed ethnicity child then we really want you to speak to us first.
Sibling groups
We need adoptive parents to offer caring and stable homes for brothers and sisters. Siblings who have been through difficult experiences with their birth families have formed a strong, intense bond. Sibling groups tend, on average, to be older than single children, so any issues and diagnoses will already have been identified in the time leading up to the placement order. This means that adopters have a much clearer idea of what they’ll be dealing with, and can begin access appropriate support right from the start. When it comes to dealing with their past during life story work, older siblings are likely to help younger siblings to understand who they are and where they’ve been, developing a strong sense of identity through their shared history.
Adopting sibling groups offers many advantages in terms of emotional security, mutual support and learning, all stemming from their shared past. They will never feel ‘I’m the only one like me’, because there will be someone just down the hall or the upper bunk who is just like them, and who has been there all along. You can help keep children together by adopting siblings.
Children with challenging behaviours
Children in care may have suffered neglect, sexual or emotional abuse in the past, and every child copes differently with past traumas. We need adoptive parents who can understand demanding behaviours, and with support and training help to change the lives of these children.
Children with physical and/or learning disabilities
All children need and deserve secure and loving homes. We are looking for adopters willing to help meet the needs of children with additional requirements. With the right support and training, we aim to help every child with a disability reach their full potential.
Adoption case studies
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Rosaline and Robert’s story
Rosaline had a child from a previous relationship, but after getting married to Robert they decided they wanted a child of their own. They became aware of the number of mixed-race children who needed adopting and found that they were in a unique situation as a bi-racial couple, to help make a difference to a child's life.
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Henrietta’s story
One piece of advice Henrietta would give to other people in the community considering adoption is: “Go for it, don’t let anything hold you back.”
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