National Campaign Seeks Adoptive Parents For 20 Children in Surrey

Published on: 18 Sep, 2020
Updated on: 18 Sep, 2020

UK adoption agencies have launched a nationwide recruitment campaign to raise awareness of adoption, with 20 children in Surrey waiting to find a family of their own.

Nearly 3,000 children in England need a family and with the number of adoptions falling by a third in four years, the #YouCanAdopt campaign will explore the process and show who is eligible to adopt, especially during the pandemic.

A survey shows 43% of people do not know if they are eligible and 32% think they wouldn’t be able to.

All 20 Surrey children waiting to join a permanent family are aged five or under, with several sibling groups.

Suzanne Chambers, head of recruitment at Adoption South East, said: “The adoption process has evolved over the past few years. It’s now simpler and quicker and there is a lot more support and resources available.”

Michael Wilson, head of service at Adoption South East, added: “The future of many children depends on adults taking the first step towards becoming an adoptive parent. We need to address misunderstandings and outdated views to ensure nobody is discouraged from adopting a child.

“Some people may also be worried about the present climate, but there are children waiting to be adopted and systems and support ensure assessments and preparation can be conducted safely.”

Some of the biggest misconceptions about eligibility are that single people, older people, and those who are LGBTQ+ are not allowed to adopt, which is untrue.

The #YouCanAdopt campaign also aims to encourage potential parents from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds because these children usually wait longer to be matched with a family.

Potential adoptive parents will also be helped to consider older children, sibling groups and those with complex health needs or a disability.

To help dispel misconceptions about adoption, several families came together to film a short piece about their experiences. The video brings to life the highs, the lows and the reality of adoption and will run online and across social media during the three-month campaign.

#YouCanAdopt. To find out more visit www.adoptionsoutheast.org.uk/