"We need adopters for children from Black African and Caribbean communities" says council

Buckinghamshire Council is calling for people who may be considering adoption to get in touch.

Adopters are needed for all children in Bucks, but those who are looking to adopt a child or young person from Black African and Black Caribbean heritage are particularly sought after.

National evidence shows that children from black communities typically wait longer to find the right family and so spend more time in care than some other children. Data from 2021-22 shows that on average, black children and children from other ethnic minority groups wait 100 days longer to be adopted*. In a bid to encourage more people to consider adoption, the council is launching a new campaign to raise awareness.

Anita Cranmer, Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education said: "When it comes to adoption, it is not essential to be of the same ethnicity as the child you are adopting, as long as you are willing to regularly and openly promote their culture and ethnicity."

Anita continued: "However, we would really like to see more adopters from our Black African and Black Caribbean communities. We know that there are people out there who may be considering coming forward, but they could be worried about the process involved or think that their circumstances make them unsuitable. We would urge these people to get in touch as we have lots of information and support to help everyone through their adoption journey, you just need to reach out and take that first step."

One of the ways the council is helping to inform prospective adopters is via a new series of podcasts created in partnership with Home for Good, a faith-based charity that promotes adoption and fostering and professional broadcasters Carrie and David Grant who have an adopted son. The podcasts cover a range of topics including the adoption process and inter-racial adoption.

Tania Bright, CEO at Home for Good said: "It was a great privilege for us at Home for Good to work alongside Buckinghamshire Council on this podcast, coming together with a shared passion to find great homes for children who are waiting. The content of the podcast is rich, deep, thought provoking and real and we hope it inspires many more individuals, couples and families to step forward to play their part." 

Another way to find out more is to join one of our online information evenings. These events are a great way to gain insight and learn more about the adoption process and how Buckinghamshire can support you. You will get to hear first-hand from adopters about their experiences and have the chance to ask them, and our team any questions you may have.

Join us at the next event which takes place on Tuesday 1 August 6pm to 7.30pm https://adoption.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/pages/informationevent

In addition to the podcasts and information events, there are lots of other ways people can find out more about adoption directly from home:

• Read stories from those who have fostered before and hear from our adoption team on our Adoption Blog.
• The WeCanAdopt website has a handy list of commonly asked questions and answers to help dispel myths about adoption.
• Our AdoptionReady tool allows you to develop your own personalised plan to find out more and begin your adoption journey.     

To find out more visit the website.