National Adoption Week

This year's National Adoption Week campaign ran from 31st October to 6th November 2011.

Worcestershire County Council's Adoption Service held a series of promotional awareness/drop-in events across Worcestershire, which included sessions at:

• Number 8 Community Arts Centre, Pershore
• Kidderminster Library
• Redditch Library
• Outside the Guildhall, Worcester

These events were publicised extensively in local newspapers and Hereford & Worcester Radio interviewed one of our adopters to tie in with the launch of the campaign on Monday 31st!

Adopters and Adoption Service staff were on hand at these events to discuss any questions or concerns prospective adopters might have about adoption.

Shannan Hobart (Recruitment Worker), Caroline Muller (Adopter) and Caroline Smith (Adopter) talking, as well as giving out information and balloons to passers-by at the Guildhall Event during National Adoption Week 2011.

We were particularly impressed by the turnout in Redditch and Worcester receiving a significant number of enquiries. We are hopeful that many of these enquirers will proceed with their interest and ultimately be approved!

It was also a great opportunity to promote the Adoption Service to the wider community and highlight the new Adoption freephone number.

Now that the campaign is over, we still need more adopters. So, if you are interested, do not hesitate to contact us on our freephone number: 0800 633 5442 for an informal conversation and to request a comprehensive information pack.

As Marilyn Butler (Operational Manager – Adoption, Worcestershire County Council), states, we need adopters from all walks of life:

'Locally, within Worcestershire, we will be trying to recruit families for children in care, especially those who wait longest. This includes black and minority ethnic children, children with disabilities, older children and sibling groups.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to own your home, have a job or be under 40 to adopt a child. You don’t have to be married either, or in a relationship, or heterosexual. You don’t have to be a parent already or qualified in any specific way.

We welcome a wide range of people from different backgrounds and experiences and there are no 'blanket' bans. Our key criteria are that you must be: over 21, have patience, be flexible and energetic and have the determination and resilience to positively transform a child’s life.

Adoptive families often need extra support at the start of their new life together or later on. Worcestershire County Council can offer comprehensive training and support services, as well as specialist advice and information regarding parenting an adopted child.'

If you think you have what it takes, please pick up the phone today and find out more about Adoption, by calling: 0800 633 5442