Changing the lives of children in Warwickshire
National Adoption Week gets underway on Monday and people living in Warwickshire are being encouraged to find out more about how they could change a child’s life.
Warwickshire County Council is looking for families who may be interested in adopting children. This year the focus in Warwickshire is finding families for school age children, sibling groups, ethnic minority children and children with varying levels of disability.
The county council would like to hear from anyone who has a question on adoption.
Cllr Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families, said: “There are no blanket bans in adoption, so please don’t think we’ll turn you down because you’re over 40, single, 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. 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.
“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.”
To try and reach as many people as possible throughout National Adoption Week, which runs until November 7, information displays will be in libraries at Alcester; Leamington; Rugby; Southam; and in Shire Hall in Warwick.
If people have questions there will also be staffed display stands at Tesco in Stratford on Tuesday, November 2, from 9.30am until 5pm; and from 9.30am until 5pm at the Priors Shopping Centre in Leamington.
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.
David Holmes, Chief Executive of BAAF, says: “It is a sad fact that some children are simply unable to remain with their birth family, because of neglect, abuse or perhaps just because their parents are unable to cope. Adoption is one of the best ways we know of giving these children a new family for life.
Children with lots of different types of early experience may need adopting - some of them have had traumatic experiences, others have learning difficulties or health problems and it’s crucial that loving and permanent families are found for them.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption can call the Adoption Team on 01926 746956 or visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/adoption. For more general information about National Adoption Week visit http://www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk.