There will be a series of FREE online and in person events during this year’s National Adoption Week for adopters and prospective adopters,
adopted people and birth parents and sector professionals. Please see below the list of all events,
If you click onto each event you’ll find more information and be able to register your attendance.

For all parties affected by adoption and permanency, including social workers and professionals:

Adoption roundtable: Perspectives and reflections
Date: Thursday 20th October
Time: 1pm

Join us for a roundtable discussion, facilitated by Mike Hancock (PAC-UK National Strategic Lead) that brings together two adopted people,
two birth parents and two adoptive parents, to look for common ground and understanding of each other’s perspective and to reflect on some of the big
issues in adoption. We’ll be asking for questions through social media beforehand and the live audience will also be able to post in the chat.
You can also email questions through in advance to mike@pac-uk.org.
Please click here to register your attendance.

The voices and stories of adopted people: Identity and relationships
Date: Monday 17th October
Time:1pm

Join us for a day that brings together the voices and experiences of adopted people. Our fantastic line-up of guest speakers,
who are all themselves adopted people includes, Mike Hancock (host and PAC-UK National Strategic Lead),
Lara Leon (Psychotherapist, Researcher and part of the ‘How To Be Adopted’ team), Shania Ives (CEO Adoptee Futures),
Liz Wilder (Writer and Life coach) and Tanya Killick (PAC-UK Adopteens Practice Manager)
who will be facilitating a discussion with young adopted people who are part of our ‘Filling the Gap’ group.
Please click here to register your attendance.

The voices and stories of birth families: The importance of connection and relationships in adoption
Date: Wednesday 19th October
Time: 1pm

Join us for a day that brings together the voices and art of birth parents.
Our fantastic line-up of guest speakers includes Angela Frazer-Wicks (host, birth mum and Chair of Trustees of Family Rights Group),
Omolade Adedapo (Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Pause) and birth parents Sammy, Kristy, D, Jill, Andy and Sam.
Please click here to register your attendance.

For adoptive parents and prospective adopters:

Introduction to National Adoption Week and Q&A
Date: Saturday 15th October
Time: 3pm

Kick off National Adoption Week with this informal meeting. Chat to staff about what’s in store, and how to make the most of what’s on offer over the coming week.
Get information about the adoption process as well as help with any challenges and hurdles you may face.
Please click here to register your attendance.

Building your network
Date: Monday 17th October
Time: 7pm

Being able to connect with other adopters and adopted people brings support, advice and friendship.
Ali Russell and AUK’s LGBTQ+ coordinator Emma lead this webinar about the benefits of developing your support network as an adopter.
Hear about the highlights of ‘finding your tribe’ and learn tips about how to connect with others via social media and other methods available to you.
Please click here to register your attendance.

Adopting an older child
Date: Tuesday 18th October
Time: 11am

Hear from experienced adopters Clare and Rob as they discuss their experiences of adopting older children.
Statistically older children wait longer to be adopted, and in this webinar you will hear about the benefits as well as the challenges
of being matched with an older child, questions to ask and things to consider.
Please click here to register your attendance.

Adopting a child with additional needs
Date: Wednesday 19th October
Time: 11am

In this webinar, Jo and Jessica, two adoptive mums of children with additional needs, share their stories of how they were matched with their children.
They share how they navigate parenthood whilst advocating for their children’s needs.
Please click here to register your attendance.

Adopting siblings
Date: Thursday 20th October
Time: 11am

Sibling groups wait longer to be adopted, and are often separated from each other in order to be more easily placed.
Hear from Gary, Sara and Chris; three experienced adopters as they take you through their journeys to being parents of siblings,
with hints and tips of what to consider along the way.
Please click here to register your attendance.

Coffee and chat
Date: Friday 21st October
Time: 11am

Join our Adoption UK staff members as National Adoption Week 2022 comes to a close.
Come along to discuss any aspect of adoption in this informal meeting.
Please click here to register your attendance.

For adopted people:

Adopted people in person meet-up in London
Date: Saturday 22nd October
Time: 10am

This event is open to adopted people only and will take place at our fully accessible Family Action Head Office, 34 Wharf Road, London, N1 7GR.
We warmly welcome you to our in-person adopted person meet-up day.
All of our guest speakers are themselves adopted and all of our workshops will be delivered or co-facilitated by adopted people.
We appreciate the day may be overwhelming for many, and for some people, this could be the first time they have ever met another adopted person.
We will create safe break-out spaces that can used throughout the day to meet others, chill, take a breather or to add messages
for change or any comments to thought boards setup in the rooms. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for welcome and refreshments.
Please click here to register your attendance.

For stakeholders and professionals:

Maintaining Relationships in Adoption, led by Professor Beth Neil
Date: Thursday 20th October
Time: 9.30am

This seminar will focus on the topic of birth family relationships for adopted people and will explore what and how things need to change.
The webinar will be led by Professor Beth Neil who will be joined by speakers with lived experience (an adopted adult, a birth parent and an adoptive parent)
to suggest the changes that are needed across the system from when children first enter care through to services for adopted adults.
There will be an opportunity to discuss your own practice and ideas for change.
Please click here to register your attendance.

What part do relationships play in the operation of our Children’s Social Care Services? 
Date: Friday 21st October
Time: 9.30am

The significance of relationships cannot be underestimated and that includes relationships with professionals.
This purpose of this webinar is to explore the nature of relationships in children’s social care and includes:
• What did the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care say about relationships?
• What does the evidence tell us about relationships?
• What is the Department for Education doing to support relationships for children placed in kinship care?
The webinar will be led by Daniel Foster from the Department of Education and John Simmonds from CoramBAAF.
Please click here to register your attendance.