Local voluntary adoption agency and charitable trust Families for Children is questioning why there are no potential adopters coming forward in the Somerset area.
As numbers of children waiting to be adopted has grown by 8% since last year, Families for Children are urgently appealing for people to come forward to adopt.
Jim Fitton, Somerset Practice Manager said: “We are at a loss as to why we have so few enquiries about adoption within the county.
“We are reminding people that whilst Local Authority Agencies are regionalising their services in the South West people still have a choice as to who can take them through the adoption process.
“Families for Children is the alternative to Local Authority and we need adopters today.”
Recent statistics from the Adoption Leadership Board report that there are currently 2,500 children in the UK waiting to be adopted. For every year they wait, their chances of being adopted decreases by 20%.
Jim continued: “We are still feeling the effects of the situation we were in 2 years ago where there were very few children with adoption orders and we had an abundance of adopters waiting for children – this is now not the case and we hope to raise awareness in the county about the urgent need for adopters for all kinds of children waiting.”
Recently awarded ’Outstanding’ from OFSTED for a third consecutive time, the Agency is launching a campaign to let potential adopters know that they have a choice when it comes to adoption.
Choosing Families for Children means that potential adopters would be benefiting from over 25 years’ experience as specialists in adoption and have access to an adoption support service that is individually tailored to the needs of children, young people and families – something which is unique to the agency.
Families for Children has a dedicated team of skilled social workers locally, who will be with you every step of the way from the moment you pick up the phone.
Families for Children is not limited to placing children from the local area and are able to search UK wide to match a child with the right adoptive family.
A local adopter said: “The Agency has always gone the extra mile to do everything possible to support us and guide us through the process. I would greatly recommend them to anyone considering adopting or seeking advice on adoption.”
Families for Children say they would be pleased to talk to anyone who is considering adoption and urge you not to wait.
All kinds of people can adopt regardless of marital status, disability, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
It doesn’t matter if you own your own home or whether you have had children or not. The charity are just asking for you to be able to provide a safe and loving home for one of these many children, so pick up the phone to find out more.
Families for Children’s next information meeting will be held on the 19th May 2018 from 10 am at Monks Yard, Horton Manor, Ilminster TA19 9PT.
If you would like to book a specific slot at the above or just for an informal discussion about adoption, call 01271 612004
For more information, visit www.familiesforchildren.org.uk.
