During National Adoption Week (21 to 27 October), Cumbria Adoption joins the nationwide ‘You Can Adopt’ campaign to increase understanding of modern adoption and show that ‘the journey to a family is not always a traditional one’.
To mark the awareness week a new film features adoptive families onboard a train, reflecting on their journeys and the people who’ve been there along the way.
The campaign 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.
Debbie and Allan adopted both their daughter and, later their son, through Cumbria Adoption service. The couple say it has been a life changing experience for them and agreed to share their story in the hope that more people may come forward.
Debbie says: “It’s just amazing what you can give to a child; love, empathy, support and safety. It is the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Allan agrees: “To be able to give a child a chance and to rebuild the child’s sense of themselves, their sense of wellbeing and watch them grow and develop and understand their place in the world, is just a unique experience.”
But both agree it is not without some challenges. Allan explains: “These children have been through a difficult start in life but they are children, still, and 98 per cent of the time they are fun, they are happy, engaged, normal children. But you’ve always got to recognise that there is something deep within that makes them special.”
Debbie finishes: “People believe that because a child is in a safe, loving environment that they are lucky but we are lucky to have these children in our lives. We are such proud, proud parents.”
While Cumbria Adoption need adopters for children of all ages, there is a particular need for adopters for children who tend to wait longest for a loving home, such as sibling groups, older children and children with additional or complex health needs.
Cumbria Adoption Service Manager, Ruth McHugh, said: “Children who come to adoption do so because their birth families are unable to care for them. Many of them have experienced neglect and trauma; all of these children need a loving, stable home. They need support and love to help them overcome their troubled start in life, make sense of who they are and grow up to be safe and secure. Being an adoptive parent can be challenging but it also brings great rewards. I’d encourage people who are thinking about adopting a child to take that first step and contact us.”
You can find out more at an upcoming event or by visiting cumbriaadoption.org.uk