Norfolk bucking national trend for recruiting adoptive parents
Norfolk is bucking the national trend for recruiting adopters, with the numbers of adopters increasing in the county.
Across the country, there are 12% fewer families considering adoption this year compared to last, whereas in the year 24/25, Norfolk County Council's Adoption Service recruited 43 adoptive households - a 53% increase on the number of adopters who were approved in 23/24.
Of these 43 households, 37 were couples and six were single adopters. The council has also seen an increase in adopters from global majority backgrounds and from the LGBTQ+ community.
The news comes as the county marks National Adoption Week, with this year's focus being on busting the misconceptions about who can adopt.
Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Norfolk County Council said: "The increase in adoptive parents is brilliant news for children in our care, as it gives them the love and stability that we all need to flourish. However, we cannot afford to stop searching for adoptive parents and families, as we still have children waiting for their forever families. National Adoption Week gives us the chance to shine a spotlight on this issue and encourage people to come forward. Even if it's something you're just considering as a maybe, please get in touch. Even if adoption isn't 100% right for you now, it might be perfect in a couple of years' time. "
The team at Norfolk Adoption Service works hard to match the right child to the right adoptive parents. Each child and every family is completely different.
Adopter Richard Potter said: "We always wanted to be parents, but it was never quite the right time. I was in the army for 11 years, so we moved around a lot, then I lost a leg and was lucky to be alive. It was a life changing experience, and we felt strongly we wanted to give something back. Adoption was the ideal route to parenthood for us. Theo was the ideal match for us, and we've been adoptive parents for nearly 4 years now. It's changed all our lives for the better. Adoption is so important as there are so many children who need a family. I believe every child deserves to be loved, to be tucked in at night and to be given the opportunity to live a normal, happy life."
The National Adoption Week campaign is aiming to bust misconceptions about adoption. Research shows 86% of adopters are worried they need a perfect home. The reality is that children need a welcome home: 41% of adoptive parents surveyed live in a house with two bedrooms or less, 65% did not have a garden and 25% live in rented accommodation.
Prue Leith, adoptive mother and grandmother to adopted children, is working on the National Adoption Week campaign and said: "When I adopted my daughter, it was in the kitchen that we bonded most, over meals, mess and everyday life. Now she's adopted children of her own. Just like any kind of parenting - adoption is messy, joyful, challenging, real, and rewarding beyond measure. Adoption gives a child a place at the table, and that's where love truly grows."
Around 250 children a year come into care in Norfolk. Not every child will stay in care, and adoption will not be appropriate for all of them. Some will be reunited with their families or go to live with other relatives, some will stay with a foster family and some will be adopted. Norfolk Adoption Services is currently looking for adoptive families for 10 children. Details of these children can be found online.
People considering whether adoption is right for them are invited to contact Norfolk Adoption Services on 01603 638343 for a friendly chat and invitation to an information event where they can find out more.
