However, around 6,000 children need to be adopted every year across the UK and we still need more adopters to come forward who can give children a secure, permanent and loving home.
Many adopters are coming forward for the very young children which sadly leaves many older children - and children with additional needs still in need of adoptive families. Families for sibling groups are especially needed.
The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) said: ‘Without enough potential adopters who are able to give these children a home together, brothers and sisters will wait longer for a family or may even have to be split up and adopted separately. Being placed with their siblings may not be right for every child, but it is a tragedy if the shortage of adopters willing and able to adopt siblings is the only reason why brothers and sisters cannot stay together.’
Home for Good is a newly formed charity whose aim is to help find adoptive families for these children. It has been developed out of a very successful campaign run by the Evangelical Alliance, Care for the Family and CCPAS and has opened a new route to adoption for Christians. It is calling on the Church to respond to the huge need for adopters for these ‘left behind children’ and asks Christians to reflect on their own identity as the adopted people of God, and how we as Christians can model God’s adopting love in the world today.
Those seriously interested in offering a loving home to waiting children should phone 0300 001 0995 to talk to one of the Home for Good team or visithomeforgood.org.uk for more information. Children’s and family workers who would like to see their church becoming a welcoming environment to children in care and their carers should request a copy of the new guide for churches. Email connie@homeforgood.org.uk for more details.
