Voluntary adoption agencies across the UK, including Coram Adoption, have come together with a joint mission to stop brothers and sisters who are waiting in care from being separated when adopted.
Almost half of children currently waiting in care* are part of a family group and voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) are looking for people who can offer them a permanent and loving home.
Coram is among 23 VAAs from all over the UK who have together created a guide for people considering adoption containing helpful information and advice from parents who have already adopted sibling groups.
Sue Lowndes, Managing Director of Coram Ambitious for Adoption, said: “The impact on children in care who are separated from their brothers and sisters to enable them to find a permanent family is huge and causes anxiety and loss for children who have already experienced a difficult start in life. Yet so few people feel equipped or able to consider adopting a sibling group of three, or even four children.
“We are excited to be part of this project sharing first hand, heartfelt experience and advice from families who have already done this incredible thing of adopting a sibling pair or group.”
Sophia, who with her husband adopted two sisters through Coram, said: “It’s unthinkable in our minds that our girls would have been separated had they not come to us. They have an incredible bond that even we can’t have with them – not only biological but due to sharing their early experiences together. This is something they can always relate to with each other and something I truly hope will help them not to feel alone or alienated in the world as they grow up.
“We have become a real team together, and there is really nothing sweeter than seeing our two girls grow together as siblings, build these strong bonds and grow into these beautiful little girls – our beautiful little girls.”
VAAs are specialists in finding families for children who wait the longest in care. They work in partnership with local authorities to find families for children waiting for a permanent home.
VAAs are independent, not-for-profit organisations who have intensive services to provide families with vital support both when the children are placed and into the future.
Maggie Jones, chief executive of the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) which represents VAAs across the country said: “Brother and sisters who are adopted together are often the only constant thing in each other’s lives in times of huge upheaval, loss and trauma.
“The voluntary adoption sector are specialists in finding families for sibling groups and being there for them with bespoke packages of support for as long as its needed.”
*There are currently 2,030 children waiting to be adopted in England and 890 of those are in a family group.. 520 children who are part of a sibling group have been waiting for 18 months or more to find a home. www.youcanadopt.co.uk