Showcasing adoption journeys of all kinds this National Adoption Week.

This year’s campaign showcases adoption journeys of all kinds, as well as the people who are there along the way – from foster carers and social workers to birth families and the adoption community. Start your adoption journey this National Adoption Week.

Find an adoption agency near you to find out more

National Adoption Week 2024

This National Adoption Week we’re highlighting adoption journeys of all kinds and showing that the road to a family is not always a traditional one. We’re also shining a light on  all the people who play an important part of someone’s lifelong adoption journey.

The campaign raises awareness of modern adoption and showcases the diversity of adoptive families today.

Adopters are needed for children across the country

  • There’s been a 22% increase in the number of children with a plan for adoption not yet matched with an adoptive family since last year
  • There are now more children yet to be placed with a family, than there are approved adopters waiting to be matched with a child
  • With fewer potential adopters coming forward, children of all ages are facing delays of over 18 months to find their forever home
  • For parents, the journey to adoption may be smoother than is often believed. One in four adoptive families were approved within six months of registration, while 18 per cent of approved adoptive families had a child matched with them within three months
Find an adoption agency to start your journey

Adopter Journeys

Just like all families, adoptive families come in all shapes and sizes and go through ups, downs and detours during their journey. Click on each person’s name below to find out more about their adoption journey and advice for other adopters.

  • Michelle and Laura are a same sex couple from Durham who started the adoption process in 2019. They decided that adoption was the best path to parenthood for them, rather than opting for fertility treatment, as it gave the opportunity for them both to experience the same journey.
  • Danielle lives in Northampton and decided to adopt as a single person just before the pandemic so completed most of her initial adoption process virtually. She knew she always wanted to be a mum, but just never met the right person so chose adoption in her 30s.
  • Tracey and Giulio live in Kent and have been together for over 17 years. After getting married, they tried for a baby but struggled to conceive biologically, so later began looking into adoption. As they were slightly older adopters, they always thought they would adopt an older child, but were matched with their baby boy in 2022.
  • Hannah and her husband live in Sheffield and adopted siblings in 2013. They had previously discussed having children, and decided it wasn’t for them. After Hannah trained to be a teacher, she came across looking after children and her and her husband had a change of heart, feeling a pull to do something to help a child in need of a forever home.
  • Stuart and Verity live in Windsor and began their adoption journey a few years after having their birth daughter. They opted for the early permanence route, which involves being approved as foster carers initially while services understand whether it might be best for the child to stay with their birth family, before going on to adopt their son.

Support for those affected during National Adoption Week

Each year, during National Adoption Week, we promote and share the services and resources that are available for anyone affected by adoption.

Support is available throughout the year and adopted people and parents can contact their regional adoption agency for help. The Adoption England website also details the various support services and organisations available for adopted people, birth parents and adoptive parents.

We also work with partners to provide a series of events that take place throughout the week, both online and in person. Events are designed for adopted people, adoptive parents, birth parents and professionals. PAC-UK is delivering a series of free to attend events throughout the week, find out more here.

Previous National Adoption Week campaigns

National Adoption Week 2023 brought together adopted people from different generations to celebrate how adoption has evolved. The campaign featured people adopted between the 1960s and 2010s talking about the positive impact adoption has had on them, and how adoption now encourages people to explore and celebrate their family history to form a positive sense of identity.

Read more about National Adoption Week 2023
National Adoption Week logo 2022

National Adoption Week 2022 was focused on the importance of identity and relationships for adopted people. The campaign explored adopted people’s memories from before, during, and after they were adopted. Highlighting how it’s important for adopted people to feel connected to their past.

Read more about National Adoption Week 2022

National Adoption Week 2021 was dedicated to all those impacted by adoption whose stories are often less heard; adopted people, adopters, birth parents and the Children’s Services workforce. The campaign shared real life stories from an adopted child, a single parent, an adopted person, a birth mother, social workers, and family members who watched loved ones go through the process.

Read more about National Adoption Week 2021