Adopter Support groups provide a brilliant source of friendship, inspiration, advice and more. The groups can take many shapes and forms, here are just some of the groups you could be involved in
Lincolnshire
- Stay and Play runs every Wednesday from 11.30 to 2pm in Lincoln. Come along and enjoy a chat, let the kids play and bring a picnic (or there’s a café next door). The area is aimed at smaller ones but we have no age limit so long as all children are playing safely. Many of our older children still need the younger-style play and we are happy to be here for them. Please contact us for location. This is a private group just for adopters where our children can play safely in a soft play area whilst we talk openly and with confidence that others understand. Children or no children, please feel free to come along and join us. There’s always a few there with no children who just enjoy the support and friendship the group offers. Book your place here.
- Evening Support Group runs every first Friday of each month in Lincoln between 7.30 – 9.30pm. Enjoy drinks and biscuits (or sometimes cake) plus a chance to offload, ask questions or just have a catch up! Adopters and pre-adopters very welcome. Book your place here.
- Louth Adoption Peer Support Group meets on the last Wednesday of each month between 7.30 and 9.30pm. There’s also the chance to bring the kids along to half-termly ‘Stay and Play’ activities. Find out more here.
- Bourne Adoption Support Group meets monthly in different places in a wonderfully relaxed and informal way. To find out more, please send an email.
Leicester and Leicestershire
- Little Lambs Stay and Play – This super friendly group meets on the second Tuesday of every month between 10.45 and 12.30am in Leicester giving you the opportunity to meet and chat with other adopters at the same time as exploring fun ways to engage and bond with your child. Hosted by Family Adoption Links Social Workers, there’ll also be occasional guest speakers covering areas like child development, play therapy, life story work and speech and language. Why not drop us an email to find out the location and book your place?
- Busy Butterflies – If you live in the south of Leicestershire, why not bring your little ones and enjoy the chance to play, craft and make friends with other adopters and their families between 9.30 and 11am on the following dates – 24th April and 22nd May. Book a place here.
- Walk and Talk – Grab the scooters and skates, bikes and buggies and join us for a stroll in beautiful nature. You and your little one can meet and make friends with others who have enjoyed this unique journey to becoming a family whilst enjoying the fresh air (and hopefully the sunshine!). Big kids are welcome but no pooches I’m afraid. Don’t forget to dress for the weather and if you fancy coffee and a cake there’s also a cafe. Takes place every 4th Tuesday of the month between 10 and 11.30am. To find out the location, please drop us an email.
North Lincolnshire
- Adopters Group (adults only) This is a monthly casual catch up for adopters (both with and waiting for a child/ren) to come together and have a chat with each other whilst enjoying a cuppa. Adopters who attend the group enthuse about how helpful it’s been to talk to others and that it hasn’t mattered if they are at different stages. They also find the advice shared within the group really helpful. A staff member from the Adoption Team is present if there is anything specific you would like to ask. Book your place here.
- Superkidz “chill and chat” session – This session is for young people aged 8+ who are adopted; adopted siblings or young people who are living with special guardians. These sessions are very chilled and an opportunity for them to spend time with other young people and enjoy some tea together. The next session is on 24th April 2024, 5pm – 6pm. Book your place here.
- Easter Treasure Hunt – 15th April (times and location tbc). Register your interest here.
- Superkidz Activity Session – 22nd July and 30th August, 10.30-1.30pm. More information available closer to the time. Register your interest here.
- Adopters Group – adults only, 3rd August 2024, 10am – 11:30am. Register your interest here.
- Education drop in appointments available at request on the following dates – 5th August and 2nd September, 1pm – 2:30pm. Book your place here.
Northamptonshire
- Stay and Play sessions take place between 10 and 12 noon on the following dates 18/4, 16/5, 20/6, 18/7, 15/8, 19/9, 17/10, 21/11, 19/12. They offer a brilliant chance for parents to chat and children to play before reading some stories and singing together. Find out more and book your place using the button. Book your place here.
- SENDS 4 DAD is a unique support group for Dads with a child/children with special educational needs/disability. Not only do they host an activity club every Sunday between 11 and 12 at The Frank Bruno Centre, NN3 9TW, they also host a series of events which includes a visit to Betty’s Farm, Nerf gun wars and breakfast meet-ups. You can find out more by visiting their Facebook page or by sending them an email.
Online Support Groups
- Sometimes the best support and advice come from those who are in similar situations, with this in mind, we’d like to invite you to join our online support groups. Taking place every month between 8 and 9pm, we’ll be discussing different subjects (see below) and inviting participants to share their experience and advice. To join, please send us an email.
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| 24/4 |
‘Playfulness’, How can we grow in being playful without being sarcastic? |
| 29/5 |
‘Acceptance’, How do we balance accepting where our child is at, with aspiring for more for/better from them? |
| 26/6 |
‘Curiosity’, Keeping conversations about feelings and hopes and fears going with our child across the ages |
