21/10/2011 - Permalink

Can you give a child a loving home for life?

Related topics: Community / Health

Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council are appealing for people to come forward to find out more about adoption as part of National Adoption week from Monday 31 October 2011 to Sunday 6 November 2011.

Throughout the week Shropshire’s joint adoption service will be hosting information and advisory events to raise awareness of adoption and to encourage residents to come forward.  The events will be held at

  • The Charles Darwin Centre, Shrewsbury on Thursday 3 November 2011
  • Telford Town Centre Shopping Centre on Friday 4 November 2011.

Members of the Joint Adoption Service will be available to give information about the adoption process, answer your queries and take referrals from interested parties.

National Adoption Week is organised by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) and aims to raise awareness of adoption and encourage potential parents to come forward.  There are an estimated 4,000 children across the UK needing adoption every year, many of whom will have suffered trauma in their short lives.

There are many children requiring adoption including single children under five, groups of brothers and sisters who need to live together, children from minority ethnic groups and children with specific learning and health needs.

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for health and well-being, said:

“There is a desperate need for more people to come forward to provide ‘forever families’ in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. I really hope that National Adoption Week will provide an inspiration for people to come along to one of our events and to find out more about how they can really give a child a loving home.”

Catherine Warner, head of service – adoption, said:

“We welcome applications from all sectors of the community. There are no blanket bans in adoption, so please don’t think we’ll turn you down because you’re over 40, single, in a same sex relationship, previously married or don’t own your own home.  What we really need are people who can offer a child or sibling group a loving and supportive family for life.  We need people who can help a child recover from the reasons why they came in to care and can help them go on to thrive in a new family.”

Councillor Paul Watling, Cabinet member with responsibilities for children, young people and families at Telford and Wrekin Council, said:

“Adoption is a major step for anyone to take, but the rewards are great, not least for the child who gets given the security of a loving and safe family environment.  I would encourage anyone who has been thinking of adoption, or indeed who is new to the idea, to come along to one of the sessions and find out more.”

Initially, we are simply asking people to come forward and find out more about adoption.  If you think you might have what it takes, please pick up the phone today or come and visit our information stands in Shrewsbury and Telford.

Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption by telephone, and to request a pack of information, can call the joint adoption service on 01743 241915 or visit www.shropshire.gov.uk or http://www.telford.gov.uk/