Adoption Matters, based in Warrington, is one of 12 voluntary adoption agencies taking part in the #AdopterChoice campaign, launching on 11 April 2022.
Supported by the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) the campaign aims to raise awareness of the options available for anyone thinking about adopting a child or children.
People wishing to adopt can choose to apply through their local authority, a regional adoption agency or a voluntary adoption agency (VAA).
Voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) are independent, not-for-profit organisations which are smaller than most statutory agencies and offer a personalised service to adopters from all backgrounds.
VAAs work in partnership with local authorities and regional adoption agencies across the whole of the UK to find families for children in care who are unable to stay with their birth relatives.
As part of the #AdopterChoice campaign, adoptive parents have spoken of the reasons why they chose to adopt through a VAA.
Adoption Matters adopters Amy and Tom adopted their three daughters in 2020 aged 5, 3 and 2 years old.
Tom said: “We looked around at a few different agencies, both local authority and voluntary agencies but it was from Adoption Matters that we got that sense of personalised support and the interest in us. It felt like our social worker was entirely in our corner and they didn’t have any agenda or priorities of their own, they were just solely focused on making the best match they could for both the children and also for us.”
Amy said: “Our experience has been fantastic! It’s been really supportive and fundamental to where our family life is now. The key factor in that has been the support from our voluntary agency, Adoption Matters, from our first contact with them up until today and the support we are still receiving.”
Watch a film featuring the experiences of all six adopters at www.adoptionmatters.org/adopterchoice.
Adoption Matters is one of the largest voluntary adoption agencies in the country covering the whole of the North of England, Stoke, Staffordshire and Shropshire and parts of Wales.
Adoption Matters Chief Executive, Susy White commented: “As one of the largest VAAs in the country, we are really proud to be part of this campaign that aims to highlight the choice to those considering growing or starting their family through adoption.
“We are particularly focused on finding adoptive parents for the children who wait the longest which include children aged four or over, children with additional needs or disabilities, children in sibling groups who need to stay together and children from Black, Asian, and other ethnic backgrounds.
We are so grateful to our adopters Amy and Tom and all the other families featured in the film for sharing their stories and helping raise awareness that all adoptive families are totally unique.”
To find out more about adopting with Adoption Matters, download an information pack and book to attend an online information event by visiting www.adoptionmatters.org.
Details of the 34 registered voluntary adoption agencies from across the UK can be found at www.cvaa.org.uk.