Growing Families Together – Adoption North West

Regional and Voluntary Adoption Agencies from across the North West have come together to develop the “Growing Families Together” campaign.

To deliver the campaign, Adoption Now, Adoption Counts, Together for Adoption, Adoption in Merseyside, Adoption Lancashire and Blackpool, Adoption Matters, and Caritas Care are working collaboratively under the name Adoption North West to support those children needing families within the region.

Children aged 3 and over are often classed as “older children” in the world of adoption. This means they tend to wait some of the longest times to be placed with their adoptive families, along with children with additional needs, those in sibling groups, or children from global majority backgrounds.

Adopting a child over 3 can be a fulfilling experience filled with memorable milestones. Witnessing a child’s growth, achievements, and their “firsts” (their first day at school, their first swimming lesson, their first holiday) is a greatly rewarding experience, as it allows families to celebrate accomplishments together.

The strength of the parent-child bond is not determined by age but by the quality of care and support provided – and with patience and understanding, families can create strong, lifelong bonds.

The latest data shows that across the North West as of 31 December 2023:

• 318 children were waiting for an adoptive family
• 134 of these children were aged 3 years and above

Sarah Johal, National Adoption Strategic Lead from Adoption England, commented: “The latest figures collected from our colleagues in Regional Adoption Agencies across the North West shows that 42% were over the age of three years old.

We know that children of this age often wait longer than younger children to find an adoptive family. It’s great that agencies in the North West are working together to raise awareness about the joys children of this age can bring into your life. It would be wonderful to see more individuals, couples and families thinking of opening their hearts and homes to these children”

With Growing Families Together, we want to challenge common misconceptions – and we want to open the door for more families to consider and embrace the joy of adopting older children.

Find out more information, and real-life adoption stories below: http://www.adoptionnorthwest.co.uk