‘Could you give me a loving home?’ is the theme of the campaign Coram is launching aimed at potential adopters in target boroughs across London on Monday 21 October as National Adoption Week 2024 gets underway.
Coram’s striking campaign carries a simple message encouraging anyone interested in adoption to come forward and find out if adopting a waiting child is something they would consider. It will feature on digital screens located across high streets, railway stations and in shopping centres in London and outer boroughs where Coram provides adoption services for partner local authorities including Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Slough.
National Adoption Week (21-27 October) comes as the most recent data sets out that in 2023/4 there was a 22% increase in children with a plan for adoption yet to be matched with a loving adoptive family, leading to children often waiting longer, detrimental to their wellbeing, to be matched. This year’s campaign aims to highlight that ‘the journey to a family is not always a traditional one’ and show adopters that they are not alone by highlighting the ‘village’ that makes every journey unique. A new National Adoption Week film has been released, featuring adoptive families onboard a train, reflecting on their journeys and the people who’ve been there along the way.
Coram Adoption – rated Outstanding earlier this month by Ofsted – has over 50 years’ experience in finding permanent loving families for children needing adoption and providing lifelong support. Part of its work involves challenging myths and misconceptions around who can and cannot adopt. Enquiries are welcomed from a diverse range of people including single people, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people of all socio-economic backgrounds and those who already have birth children.
Coram Adoption particularly encourages potential adoptive parents from black and multi heritage communities to come forward so that more children are matched with families who can celebrate their culture and are attuned to their identity needs as they grow up. And while Coram Adoption works in formal partnership with a number of specific London councils, it also welcome enquiries from people across the capital and the surrounding areas who may be able to offer a loving home to a child.
For over ten years, Coram has also run pioneering Adoption Activity Days. These events, delivered by specialist staff, bring approved adopters together children awaiting adoption in a fun and informal setting and enable adopters to discover whether they feel an emotional connection with a child, rather than simply relying on a written information. The events have a very high success rate with one in four children attending being matched with a family.
Dr Carol Homden, Coram CEO, says: “This National Adoption Week we are encouraging more people to come forward and find out more about whether adoption might be for them. We have witnessed a downward trend for enquiries and approvals in recent years. But for all the challenge adoption can bring, our experience tells us that for the overwhelming majority adoption is a hugely rewarding journey for children and parents. There are regular information events, and we look forward to hearing from people from all walks of life considering whether they have the room in their hearts and their home for any of the many young children currently waiting to be adopted.”
Coram Adoption runs regular free online information sessions for anyone interested in adoption to find out more. There is also an in-person information session on 30 October aimed at encouraging more adopters from black or dual heritage African or Caribbean backgrounds to come forward. Find out more at www.coramadoption.org.uk/adoption-events.