Adopter Stories by Adoption Now Adoption Now

One of the biggest pieces of training that takes place in Stage 1 is Preparation Training.

A 3 day, in person course in which we aim of to prepare our adopters for what’s to come during their adoption journey, so they know what to expect and also build on their knowledge of what adoption is.

So to give you a little jump start on what’s to come if and when you start your adoption story, I sat down to chat with Kayleigh, one of our experienced social workers here at adoption now, who delivers this training.

Amongst other things, we find a bit more about what prep training is and what it is that you will get out of the training.

If hearing about prep training has got you excited to find out more about how you start your adoption story, why not come along to one of our upcoming Online Information Events?

Taking place online, our Online Information Events are the perfect place to start YOUR adoption story. There you can find out all about the process itself, where preparation training fits into the process and also ask any questions you have; our social worker presenter and adopter guest speaker will be only too happy to answer your questions.

To book, simply head over to www.adoptionnow.org.uk/events

Alternatively you can also call our Information Line to start your adoption story – open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday simply call - 01204 336096 and a member of our team will be only too happy to help you start!

In episode 3 of Extra Time we recap on our current Hope for a Brighter Future Campaign, we’ll find out about the pressing need we have for adopters to come forward.

Our adoption now roadshows across our local authority areas carries on with Bolton and Blackburn.

And then we finish the episode with part two of our brand new, monthly feature – getting you ready to adopt. In this series of interviews with our Welcome Team Manager Dan; we will be running through each step of the process so you will know what to expect as part of your adoption story and in this episode Dan talks to us about Initial Visits.



If you are thinking about adoption or would like to start your adoption story you can visit our website, which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk or you can call our Information Line on 01204 336096 where a member of our team will be only too happy to answer any questions that you may have and help you to start your adoption story.

Extra time is where each month we are going to bring you more about what’s going on within the agency by going behind the scenes on projects and campaigns that we are currently working on; giving you important dates for your diary,and we’ll also occasionally feature case studies of some of the children that we are currently finding families for, and much more.

In this episode we are taking a look at our brand new campaign with Sarah, a member of our welcome team and our marketing team; I’ll be chatting with Amanda about our recent Adoption Day and also Catrin, one of our social workers here at Adoption Now about the brand new, regional campaign Adoption North West.

And then we’ll finish up the episode with the start of our brand new, monthly feature – getting you ready to adopt. In this series of interviews with our Welcome Team Manager Dan; we will be running through each step of the process that you can expect to form your adoption story. Today we are going right back to the very beginning and talk about Initial enquiry Forms.

Our Online Information Events for May are as follows:

Wednesday 15th May at 12pm

Wednesday 29th May at 5pm

To book your place simply head over to www.adoptionnow.org.uk/events and click on the best date for you.

If you are thinking about adoption or would like to start your adoption story you can always visit our website, which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk or you can call our Information Line on 01204 336096 where a member of our team will be only too happy to answer any questions that you may have and help you to start your adoption story.

This April we are launching our brand new campaign – hope for a brighter future. This will be a large scale campaign as now more than ever we need adopters to come forward for all our children.

The campaign focusses on raising awareness of the positive difference adopters can make to a child’s future. This campaign is going live on the 22th April so keep your eyes out for our adverts when you’re out and about in our local authority areas!

In this latest episode we catch up with Dan & Hayley, who adopted siblings, and find out the positive difference that they have made to the lives of their adopted children. Sibling groups are often some of the children who wait the longest to adopted so in this episode we find out why Dan & Hayley came to the decision to adopt siblings, what have been some of challenges of adopting siblings and of course we talk about the highs too.

If hearing their story has got you thinking about adopting siblings, then we would love to hear from you.

With fewer people coming forward, now, more the ever, we need adopters, and once approved adopters are less likely to have to wait to be matched.

You can find out more information about starting the adoption process by visiting our website which is www.adoptionnow.org.uk. There you will be able to download our information pack and fill our contact form to start your adoption story.

You can also call our Information Line on 01204 336096. Open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday you will be able to speak to a member of our welcome team who will be only too happy to answer any questions you have and help you start your adoption story.

Don’t forget we are going to be releasing two episodes per month going forward so if you don’t already, make sure you have clicked that subscribe button so you don’t miss any future episodes.

Going forward this podcast is changing with the addition of a new, extra episode each month! In this new episode we are going to be able to bring you more about what’s going on within the agency by going behind the scenes, important dates for your diary, occasional case studies of some of the children that we are finding families for, updates on any campaigns that we are currently running and much more.

In this first episode we take a look back at our recent ‘I Became a Parent when…’ campaign, and we also find out about our roadshows…and much more!

We always love hearing from you and we want to know, what do you want to hear in future episodes?

Are there any topics that you feel we should be covering, that we haven’t covered so far and is something that you would like to find out more about?

If there is be sure to let us know by emailing marketing@adoptionnow.org.uk and we will do our best to try and include your chosen topic in a future episode of Adopter Stories by Adoption Now.

Choosing to adopt is not a decision that is taken likely. We get that. It’s a life changing decision that can often lead to making big changes in your own lifestyle before you take on the responsibility of a child or children. That could be choosing to become a little healthier, gaining more experience in child care or even moving house.

And for our guest in this episode that is just what happened to her. Hannah started her adoption story back during the very start of Covid and as a single adopter she realised how important her wider support network will be so with this she decided that, during one of the biggest life decisions you can make, that she would do another one at the same time move house!

Aswell as the house move, we find out about how she came to the decision to adopt and we also discuss representation of single adopters and adoption in general in the wider media.



If hearing Hannah’s story has got you thinking about starting your adoption story why not book onto one of our upcoming Online Information Events. We run them twice monthly and they are 100% live over TEAMS. We talk through the adoption process, then we have an adopter guest speaker join us who tells their adoption story and we wrap up the event by have a Q&A where you can ask any questions that you may have.

Visit adoptionnow.org.uk/events to book your free place!