0121 303 7575

Mon-Fri, 8.45am-4.15pm

0121 303 7575

Mon-Fri, 8.45am-4.15pm

family out in a park

National Adoption Week

The Journey Continues to Find Adoptive Families Across the Country.

To mark the theme of ‘The Journey’ a new short film, set onboard a train, follows the stories of three adoptive families on their travels, reflecting on the ups, downs and detours of their lifelong journey.

The campaign raises awareness of modern adoption and showcases the diversity of adoptive families today, showing that the journey to a family is not always a traditional one.

Just like adoption, trains connect people to one another and act as a fitting metaphor for the adoption journey – one that is full of adventure, chaos, and love. Each family explores how, just like all families, adoptive families come in all shapes and sizes and go through ups, downs and detours during their lifelong journey – but ultimately the experience has been positive and definitely worthwhile.

The films feature a diverse range of parents and children, including Andrew, a former social worker and loving adoptive father to his adult daughter Carla; Rachel, an adopter, and her supportive social worker Becky; and Angela, a single adopter, and her adult daughter Hazel.

The campaign will show adopters that they are not alone by highlighting the people who play a significant role in each family’s lifelong journey and makes each experience unique – from foster carers and social workers to birth families and the adoption community.

Statistics

New data shows there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of children with a plan for adoption not yet matched with an adoptive family in England in 2023-4, compared to the previous year.
  • 65 %

    of Brits say there's no such thing as a 'normal' family

  • 48 %

    of Brits say they have a 'chosen family'

The Journey

This National Adoption Week, we are shining a light on adoption journeys of all kinds. Parents themselves go on a journey when they adopt – often challenging their own preconceptions about adoption and learning more about themselves along the way.

Rachel, who features in the film alongside her two-year-old adopted daughter Winnie, father Daniel and social worker Becky, said: “You have an idea in your head of what family looks like, and for us it’s been different, but even more wonderful in different ways. For me, it’s really important that Winnie has a sense of herself and her identity – that she understands that not only do all families look different, but she has more than one family, and that’s OK.”

This comes as the latest data from England shows there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of children with a plan for adoption not yet matched with an adoptive family. 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 (believed to be a result of the cost-of-living crisis), children of all ages are facing delays of over 18 months to be placed in a loving, stable home.

In support of the campaign, train companies across the country including Southeastern Railway, Hull Trains and Avanti are encouraging more people to start their own adoption journey. From offering free tickets for adoptive families, to changing digital signage at train stations, rail companies are rallying behind the cause in support of everybody who is part of an adoptive family or considering embarking on their own adoption journey.