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Launch of a new campaign to help children who wait the longest

"These children may be harder to place but they are not harder to love."

Two children reading a book

 

Today, You Can Adopt has launched ‘A Life Less Ordinary’, a new campaign to find parents for children waiting longest to be adopted. These include children aged five or over, children with additional and/or complex needs, brother and sister groups, and those from an ethnic minority background.

To reduce waiting times for these groups, the campaign showcases the many life-changing benefits of adopting these children, explores the traits parents need to be resilient adopters, and highlights the support available to adopters and adopted children – highlighting that while some children may be ‘harder to place’, they are not ‘harder to love’.

As part of this campaign, local adoption agency Family Adoption Links is seeking to highlight the children that have been waiting longest in our area. Ethan (8) and Evie (4) have been waiting for 14 months for a new family, with dark hair and big brown eyes they are looking for a couple and can be placed with other children. Their foster carers describe them as ‘Little superstars who love to sing and dance’.

To see details of the children who are waiting, please click here.

The campaign also offers additional support and information around adopting children from an ethnic minority background, as the reasons why children from this group typically wait longer are complex and different to those from other groups.

John Harris, Head of Family Adoption Links said:

“As a partnership we are dedicated to finding the right adopters for the children we are caring for. ‘Harder to place’ children are not harder to love and most potential adopters already have the skills that could transform their lives by giving them a loving, stable and permanent family home. Support is available in many guises and adoption is incredible rewarding.

As part of the ‘A Life Less Ordinary’ campaign, a new touching film has been released featuring children from these groups forming an ‘expert’ interview panel, asking real adoptive parents questions about what it takes to give these children a permanent home.

Malcolm and Shelley who feature in the film, are parents to brothers Kieron and Tyler (who they adopted aged 4 and 5), and Courtney, who they adopted aged 3:

“When we adopted siblings, we always say it brought twice the fun into our lives. They need each other and love each other, and we wouldn’t have wanted to split them up. Then when we adopted Courtney a few years later, it definitely got a bit noisier in our house! We are so honoured to be able to look after our daughter, who has additional physical needs, and see how she has gone above and beyond what might have been expected of her. For anybody adopting a child with special needs, there’s absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t lead a fulfilling and wonderful life. You’re giving them a future they might otherwise not have had. It can be challenging, but we just get on with it and adapt as a family!”

Adam and Daniyal who also feature in the film, are adoptive parents to 2-year old Samad, who is from a South Asian background.

“With regards to adopting a child from an ethnic minority background, we see it as a definite positive because you’re bringing something extra into your family that you might not have otherwise been able to experience. It just enhances our relationship with our son – to learn and understand his heritage. It means we don’t just get to celebrate Christmas and Easter, we get Eid too, and that really enriches our family life.”

The national survey found that 70% of the public were not aware of support services available for adoptive parents. Family Adoption Links offers a range of training courses, support groups, workshops, events and specialised therapy tailored to families’ needs. There is also an Adoption Support Fund, set up by the Government, to pay for therapeutic services for adoptive children and their parents, as well as specific support for children with disabilities, including therapies and funding for specialised equipment.

If you’ve ever considered adopting and want to find out more why not book on to one of our adoption information events?

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