It's National Adoption Week '“ could you adopt a child from Milton Keynes?

With media interest on celebrity adoptions from abroad, it can be easy to forget about the children in our local area who need new families.
Help them write their futureHelp them write their future
Help them write their future

For this year’s National Adoption Week (15 – 21 October) Milton Keynes Council is encouraging people to think about all the children who may have been waiting months or even years for a new family. We will be highlighting the plentiful rewards and the life changing experience to help rewrite a child’s future.

There are more than 2000 children in England who need to be adopted, and over 60% of these are in sibling groups. They are from a variety of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, and some may have disabilities and other special needs.

Most children who currently need adopting will have been removed from their birth families by the courts because their parents or wider families were unable to provide the care they needed – and many would have lived through damaging experiences of neglect and abuse.

Help them write their futureHelp them write their future
Help them write their future

Richard and Jessica are one of many adoptive families in Milton Keynes and are currently in the process of adopting their second child with MK Council.

Jessica said: “The head of the adoption service at MKC came out to meet us to make sure we were serious and explained how the process would work – they made us feel very comfortable.

“We started the process in December and it was all completed in the August of the following year.

“We attended training sessions explaining the whole process and the legalities of everything involved - MK Council were very good at explaining everything to us and we felt totally prepared.”

MK Council is always looking for adopters for children who need families. We want to encourage people to think about the children who may have been waiting months, or often years, for a new family. These include disabled children, various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, sibling groups and older children – could you be their mum and dad?

“First and foremost I’d say look into it thoroughly and read the information that’s available online and speak to other people who have been through the process,” said Richard, Jessica’s husband.

“I’d also say that if you’re nervous about applying have a chat with the really friendly and helpful adoption team at MK Council directly - they will happily tell you about the process and all the options open to you.”

Councillor Zoe Nolan, cabinet member for children and families, said: “In the last two years we have assessed 37 adoptive families and in that time 8 sibling groups have been kept together. We would be delighted to speak to people who may feel they could consider this and learn more.”

“Homes come in all shapes and sizes, speak to our Adoption Team if you would like to make difference to a child’s future,” added Cllr Nolan.

The Adoption Team is holding a number of adoption sessions at the Civic Offices in Central Milton Keynes, between 6 – 8pm on October 17, November 12 and December 3.

To find out more, give the team a call on 01908 253654.