Adoption Matters Supports National Adoption Week 2024

There’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ family, say 65 per cent of Brits – as National Adoption Week highlights adoption journeys of all kinds

A new survey by You Can Adopt reveals that nearly half of Brits (48 per cent) have a ‘chosen family’ and 42 per cent come from a ‘non-traditional’ family structure
The survey explored attitudes to family diversity, as National Adoption Week aims to highlight that ‘the journey to a family is not always a traditional one’
This comes as new adoption data 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, alongside a fall in the number of adopters coming forward
To mark National Adoption Week, a new film features adoptive families onboard a train, reflecting on their journeys and the people who’ve been there along the way

Local children’s charity and adoption agency Adoption Matters is proud to support this year's National Adoption Week. The campaign aims to show adopters that they are not alone by highlighting the ‘village’ that makes every journey unique - from social workers and foster carers to birth families and grandparents

Rachel, who features in the film alongside her two-year-old adopted daughter Winnie, father Daniel and social worker Becky, said:
“You have an idea in your head of what family looks like, and for us it’s been different, but even more wonderful in different ways. For me, it’s really important that Winnie has a sense of herself and her identity – that she understands that not only do all families look different, but she has more than one family, and that’s OK.”

This comes as latest data 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, meaning there are 780 more children not yet placed with a family, than there are approved adopters waiting to be matched with a child. With fewer potential adopters coming forward – believed to largely be a result of the cost-of-living crisis - this means that nearly half (47 per cent) of all children face delays of over 18 months to be placed with an adoptive family.

Adoption Matters adopters Rachael and Paul and their three children

Adoption Matters adopters Rachael and Paul adopted their three children, in their video to support the campaign and Rachael comments:
“The most surprising thing for me on our adoption journey has been how little I’ve cared about a DNA connection. It was something that worried me so much, but within seconds of meeting our children, that all just melted away.”

Adoption Matters Chief Executive Susy White comments:
"We are delighted to support this year's National Adoption Week campaign highlighting the need for more people to consider adoption. As one of the largest and most established voluntary adoption agencies in the country, we are saddened to see that once again, the number of children in need of a permanent home is now greater than those registered to adopt. Adoption Matters are never alone in their journey, we offer support and guidance from that very first phone call, to your first grand child – we are there every step of the way. We would encourage you to get in touch with our friendly teams to find out more.”

The charity hosts regular online information sessions for people who want to find out more about adoption. Find out more: www.adoptionmatters.org