Royal Greenwich Steps Up Search For Adoptive Parents

by our RGB Correspondent | Woolwich

National Adoption Week 2015 will take place from 19 to 25 October and the theme this year is ‘Too Old at 4?’

This theme reflects a national focus on the need to find adoptive parents for older children and those who often wait the longest to be adopted. This can include sibling groups of children; children with complex/additional needs; and children from black and minority ethnic families.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is actively seeking adoptive parents who are able to provide a safe, secure and stable family home for vulnerable children to grow and develop to their full potential - people who have the necessary skills, patience and an understanding that adopted children may have more challenging and special care needs. 

The borough’s Adoption Team are seeking families not only from within the borough, but for confidentiality reasons it is not always possible to place children locally and therefore, we are also seeking families from surrounding areas.

People coming forward to be adoptive parents will be fully supported by a team of experienced social workers, who will guide you through the assessment process. You will be given opportunities to attend learning events and learn more about the process and challenges of adopting.

Once approved all adopters will continue to have on-going support in looking after their adopted child, Greenwich is part of the South London Adoption Consortium (www.thesouthlondonadoptionconsortium.org.uk) which offers a range of training workshops for adopters. 

Cllr John Fahy, Deputy Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Adoption can help change the lives of young people, and speaking to those who have adopted a child it is life-changing and rewarding for the adults too."

“Adoption is not a daunting process, but it does take time, effort and commitment. I would encourage anyone interested in adopting a child to contact the Royal Greenwich adoption team to find out about the support that’s available.”

* An image by celebrity photographer Mary McCartney illuminated

London’s City Hall on night of Saturday 17th October, 2015.

(Credit: First4Adoption)

If you think that adoption is for you, please contact adoption@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or call 020 8921 2752 for more information. 

The next information session for people interested in adopting with Royal Greenwich takes place in Woolwich on Thursday, 26 November from 7pm to 9pm. To register for the event, go to www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/adoption 

To find out more about what adoption involves, you can also visit www.first4adoption.org.uk which is an umbrella group for adoption agencies.