An adoption charity is going back to basics is a bid to find more people to look after children.
At present, more than 6,000 children are in care and awaiting adoption. However, there are nowhere near that number of adopters coming forward to offer a child a new family.
St Francis’ Children’s Society hosts monthly information events which allow prospective adopters to find out more.
And this month they are going back to basics with a region-wide poster campaign.
The posters highlight the overwhelming need for more adoptive families in the UK, and dispel some of the myths about adoption: people who are over 40, single, in a same-sex relationship, an unmarried couple or not on a high income are all eligible to adopt a child.
The Society’s CEO, Alison Miller, said: “The recent spate of television documentaries about adoption have really highlighted the desperate need for more new adoptive parents to come forward. Channel 4 led the way with ‘Finding Mum & Dad’ and ‘15,000 Kids and Counting’, and ITV screened a major 4-part documentary series looking at the entire adoption process called Wanted: A Family of My Own.
“These programmes have certainly raised the profile of adoption at a national level, but we need to build on that and help people realise that the shortfall in adopters is a local problem too.’
St Francis’ Children’s Society are looking for volunteers to put posters up in their local doctor’s surgeries, libraries, community centres, church halls, shops and cafés – anywhere the local community can see them and learn a bit more about the Society.
Communications Officer, Vicky Hunt, said: “We need help to really spread the word about our services and allay any concerns which might be preventing people who could be interested in adoption from coming forward.”
The Society welcomes all kinds of adopters for all kinds of children, regardless of age, race, cultural background, religion, marital status or sexual orientation. Although the Society’s offices are based in Milton Keynes, they operate across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and beyond. As long as you feel comfortable with the distance between yourself and Milton Keynes, the Society would be delighted to support you through every step of your adoption journey.
If you would like to help St. Francis’ Children’s Society to raise awareness, please contact Vicky Hunt on 01908 572700 or vickyh@sfcs.org.uk, who will send you copies of their poster!