The National Adoption Information Service for England

The national adoption information service for England

Strictly Embargoed until 16th October 2017

NEW FIGURES SHOW HALF OF THE CHILDREN AWAITING ADOPTION IN LONDON ARE IN SIBLING GROUPS

50% of the children in London waiting for adoptive families are brothers and sisters in groups of 2 or more according to new information published today to mark National Adoption Week (16-22nd October). Figures from national adoption information service, First4Adoption, based on the latest government information*, show that sibling groups wait longer than single children to be placed with a “forever family”.

[Name] from [agency] says “The majority of people adopting for the first time choose to take a single child into their family. Also, it is often in the best interests of the children that a sibling group finds a family together rather than experience further trauma by being separated. This presents an extra challenge for social workers and these factors account for the high proportion of siblings in our region waiting for an adoptive family”.

The new research, by Adoption Match and based on data from the Adoption Register for England also reveals that:

·  64% of sibling groups awaiting adoption in London are children aged 4+

·  53% of these groups awaiting adoption are made up of boys

·  62% of the siblings groups awaiting adoption are Black and Minority Ethnic children

[Name] from [agency] adds, “We’re asking anyone who may be considering adoption to think about whether they could parent siblings. There’s no denying that having more than one child comes with real challenges but it also has advantages and brings great rewards. If you’re interested in finding out more, please contact [Name of agency] today.

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Notes to Editors

*Based on information from Adoption Match which operates the Adoption Register for England on behalf of the Department for Education http://www.adoptionmatch.org.uk/

National Adoption Week runs from 16th- 22nd October 2017 http://www.first4adoption.org.uk/nationaladoptionweek/

First4Adoption is the national information service for adoption in England. CallFirst4Adoptionon0300 222 0022, visit our websitewww.first4adoption.org.uk,follow us onTwitterandFacebook

Adoption Match is the national service working to match those children waiting to find permanent homes with those approved adopters waiting to be matched with children. Adoption Match managesthe national statutory database of children and adopters, theAdoption Register for England, on behalf of the Department for Education.

[Description of Agency]

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