National Adoption Week; the journey to a family is not always a traditional one

East Riding of Yorkshire Council and One Adoption North and Humber are supporting this year’s National Adoption Week (21-27 October). This year’s campaign hopes to increase understanding of modern adoption, the diversity of adoption journeys today and show that ‘the journey to a family is not always a traditional one’.

The campaign will show prospective adopters that they are not alone, by highlighting the ‘village’ that makes every journey unique - from social workers and foster carers to birth families and grandparents – who help support and navigate the journey along the way.

A new survey by You Can Adopt exploring changing attitudes to family life, reveals that in Yorkshire and the Humber, 66 per cent of participants said there’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ family, with nearly half of people questioned describing themselves as having a ‘chosen family’ and 51 per cent saying they come from a ‘non-traditional’ family structure themselves (such as blended, extended, adoptive, or single parent).

This comes as new adoption data shows that in England, there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of children with a plan for adoption not yet matched with an adoptive family, alongside a fall in the number of adopters coming forward.

In the North and Humber region there are currently 46 children waiting for their forever home and more than half are part of a group of brothers and sisters. With fewer potential adopters coming forward – believed to largely be a result of the cost-of-living crisis – this means that nearly half of all children face delays of over 18 months to be placed with an adoptive family.

Tom Maxwell, Head of Agency at One Adoption North and Humber said: “National Adoption Week is always a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and raise the profile of adoption across the country. Adoption is a life-changing journey that enriches not only the lives of children but also the families who welcome them. Every adoption story is different, shaped by the people who make it possible.

“Modern adoption is about creating new beginnings, celebrating diversity, and building families in ways that are as unique as the children themselves. By stepping forward, you’re opening your heart to the incredible joy and love adoption brings. We look forward to hearing from anyone who is interested in adopting with us.”

To mark the theme of ‘The Journey’ a new short film, set onboard a train, follows the stories of three adoptive families on their travels, reflecting on the ups, downs and detours of their lifelong journey.

Rachel, who features in the film alongside her two-year-old adopted daughter Winnie, father Daniel and social worker Becky, said: “You have an idea in your head of what family looks like, and for us it’s been different, but even more wonderful in different ways. For me, it’s really important that Winnie has a sense of herself and her identity – that she understands that not only do all families look different, but she has more than one family, and that’s OK.”

Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education said: "In East Riding we currently have twelve children who need adopting. I'd encourage people to find out more and consider if they could provide a child with a loving home."

One Adoption North and Humber will be holding an online adoption information event during National Adoption Week on Wednesday 23 October between 6pm and 7pm, where the adoption team and an adoptive parent will be on hand to answer your questions. For more information about adoption and to book your place, please visit: https://www.oneadoption.co.uk/news/national-adoption-week-2024-journey