People from Warwickshire are being urged to consider adoption and help provide children with the safe, loving and permanent families they urgently need.
Adoption Central England (ACE), the regional adoption agency for Warwickshire is encouraging more people from all backgrounds to find out about adoption and the life-changing difference it can make.
Every year, children in Warwickshire and the wider region wait for families who can offer them stability, security and a place to belong. While the need for adopters remains high, the number of people coming forward to adopt has fallen nationally.
ACE is supporting the national You Can Adopt campaign, Every Day is Everything, which highlights the life-changing difference that everyday family moments can make to children who are waiting for adoption.
A recent report from Adoption England and Coram has warned that, if current trends continue, there may be enough approved adoptive families to meet the needs of 13 per cent of children seeking a permanent home by 2030.
The analysis highlights a growing gap between the number of children needing adoption and the number of prospective adopters coming forward. Nationally, there are currently around 1,600 more children in need of adoption than there are approved adopters available to adopt them, with the gap increasing by 52 per cent in the past five years while the number of approved adopters has fallen by 46 per cent.
Across the Adoption Central England region, over 90 children are currently waiting for permanent homes. Over the past five years, the number of prospective adopters coming forward has fallen by almost 14 per cent, reflecting the challenges highlighted in the national report and reinforcing the urgent need for more people to consider adoption.
However, the report also highlights a positive opportunity. If adopter registrations returned to levels seen five years ago, nearly 1,000 additional children across England could find permanent homes by 2030.
Children in need of adoption spend an average of 646 days waiting for a permanent family after entering care. For a child, that can mean hundreds of days without the stability, security and sense of belonging that a permanent family can provide.
The Every Day is Everything campaign celebrates the ordinary but powerful moments that help children thrive, from school runs and mealtimes to bedtime stories and knowing someone will always be there. It aims to reassure people that adoption is not about being perfect, but about being ready to offer a child love, stability and commitment every day.
The campaign also challenges common misconceptions about adoption. Prospective adopters do not need to own their home, be in a relationship, or fit a traditional idea of what an adoptive parent looks like. ACE are looking for people from all backgrounds who can provide a safe, stable and loving home.
Jemma Fordham, Head of Service for Adoption Central England, said:
"There are currently 93 children across the ACE region waiting for the permanence, love, understanding and security that an adoptive family can provide. These are children who, through no fault of their own, have already experienced loss, trauma and uncertainty in their young lives.
"The theme of this campaign, 'Every Day is Everything' reminds us that it is often the everyday moments that matter most to children. Knowing who will read them a bedtime story, comfort them when they are upset, cheer them on as they try new things and be there consistently as they grow up.
"Over the past five years, the number of people coming forward to explore adoption across our region has fallen, making it even more important that we encourage new enquiries and conversations about adoption.
"We urgently need more people to consider whether adoption could be right for them. Adoption is not about being perfect. It is about having the commitment, patience and love to help a child who has had a difficult start in life feel safe, valued and part of a family.
"We would encourage anyone who is curious about adoption to get in touch for an informal conversation. It could be the start of something life-changing and ACE will be there to provide support every step of the way."
Warwickshire County Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Children and Families, Education and SEND, added:
"Adoption can transform a child's life by giving them the stability, love and sense of belonging they need to grow and thrive.
"We are encouraging anyone who has ever thought about adoption, even if they are unsure, to find out more. There is no commitment in making an initial enquiry, but that first conversation could be the start of something life-changing for everyone involved."
The national campaign film features adoptive families, experts and well-known supporters, including former Paralympian Ellie Simmonds OBE, Roxy Hotchkiss and Judy Wilson from BBC's The Traitors, and Post Adoption Social Worker and former Love Island winner Sanam Fagan. Together, they share the everyday moments that shape family life and the harder-hitting numbers behind the growing need for adopters.
Anyone interested in adoption can find out more through Adoption Central England at www.aceadoption.com. People are also encouraged to engage with the national You Can Adopt campaign by searching You Can Adopt and following #EveryDayisEverything.