[A]nnie, Joshua, brothers Mark and Billy and sisters Lacey and Rose, are just some of the children aged between 2 and 6 that the council is currently family-finding for, and they will all feature in a new county-wide campaign launching this week. Profiles of these children will be shared on the council’s Fostering and Adoption Facebook page throughout the week.
Cllr Anne Burns, Cumbria County Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “The majority of people adopting for the first time choose to take a single child into their family, but this National Adoption Week we’d like to encourage people to consider adopting siblings and to speak to us to find out more.
“It is often in the best interests of the children that brothers and sisters find a family together rather than experience further trauma by being separated.
“This presents an extra challenge for our social workers and these factors can account for the high proportion of siblings in Cumbria waiting for an adoptive family.”
Ruth McHugh, Adoption Service Manager, said: “We’re asking those who may be considering adopting to think about whether they could be parents for siblings.
“While bringing more than one child into your family comes with real challenges, it also brings great rewards.
“If you’ve got room in your home, and your heart, and time for more than one child, it’s definitely worth considering adopting a sibling group. Please contact us today or come to one of our information events.”
Prospective adopters in Cumbria are invited to find out more at information evenings in Carlisle, Kendal or Workington:
- Carlisle – Thursday 19 October 2017 – Crown & Mitre Hotel – starts 6pm with presentation from 6.15pm
- Kendal – Monday 6 November 2017 – Castle Green Hotel – starts 6pm with presentation from 6.15pm
- Workington – Thursday 9 November 2017 – The Melbreak Hotel – starts 6pm with presentation from 6.15pm
More information about the children waiting, the process and the support available can also be found at www.cumbria.gov.uk/adoption and on Facebook – search Fostering and Adoption with Cumbria County Council.
The children named and profiles featured are ‘anonymised’ for the protection of the children and families but they represent an accurate portrayal of those needing families.
