I am interested in adopting
Children who need to be adopted come from many different backgrounds and ethnicities. Some are very young; some are older; some have brothers and sisters that they need to stay with; some have special needs or disabilities; many have experienced very difficult childhoods and have problems that they will need help to overcome; all of them will need unconditional love and support to help them flourish, assured by the knowledge that their new parents will always put them first.
How Coram supports adoptive parents
We offer you support from the very first time you contact us, right the way through to becoming an adoptive parent.
All our adoptive parents are given specialist training, both one-to-one and with other prospective adopters going through the same process, and have the chance to meet people who have previously adopted through Coram.
What’s more, our work doesn’t end once you have officially adopted your child. We continue to be available to support you, your adopted children and your family throughout your lives. Read about our post-adoption support here.
"On our first visit to Coram, they were so friendly and welcoming. We felt the social worker was on our side." Ryan and Suzanne, adoptive parents
Who Can Adopt?
A child needs parents who can offer them the best love and support. We welcome applications from people who are committed to helping our children grow up feeling safe and happy. We welcome enquiries from:
- Single people
- Married couples
- Couples in committed, long-term relationships
- People from different ethnicities and religions
- Heterosexual and homosexual people
- People without children and those who are parents already
- Homeowners or those in rented accommodation
- People over the age of 21, who are UK residents and hold no criminal convictions against children
There are many children waiting for a family to adopt them, and we to find the right family to adopt them. Some adopters may have experienced difficulties in their lives – what we're interested in is how they coped with these experiences, and what they have to offer children as adoptive parents. We need people who are in good health, have energy, a capacity to understand children’s feelings, a sense of fun, and the motivation to persevere through difficult times.
Is Financial Support Available?
If you are employed, you are entitled to an adoption allowance and up to 12 months adoption leave (not all of it paid) when a child is placed in your care. You can also claim Child Benefit and in special circumstances – typically when a child has special difficulties or brothers and sisters – you may receive further financial support from the placing Local Authority.
How Can I Adopt?
Coram has dedicated adoption teams in London, the East Midlands and East Anglia. We also have adoption partnerships with several local authorities.(see below) Each team offers prospective adopters high quality training, assessment and support, and carefully matches children in local authority care with adoptive families where we believe they will fit in well. Our adoption teams offer all our families:
- Advice and support throughout the adoption process.
- Lifetime support: we are here for our adopters and their adopted children whenever they might need us.
- Referrals to specialist local services if a need arises.
- Support groups for adopted children and young people to help them to develop their confidence and social skills (East Midlands and Adopt Anglia)
- Parenting skills groups to develop positive parenting strategies to avoid conflict and help build attachments(London).
Coram also runs an innovative Concurrent Planning service that speeds up the process of adoption or return to birth families for very young children.
Where we work
We are looking for adoptive parents and carers who live within:
- 35-mile radius of central London (this includes parts of Essex, Surrey, Kent and Buckinghamshire)
- approximately one hour’s travelling time from Shepshed, East Midlands (Jn23 M1)
- a 50-mile radius of Cambridge.
We also work in partnership with several local authorities to help manage their adoption sevices:
- Harrow If you live in Harrow and are interested in adoption please contact: Harrow/Coram Adoption Partnership on 020 8736 6449.
- Cambridgeshire If you live in Cambridgeshire and are interested in adoption please contact: Cambridgeshire County Council's Adoption Team on 0800 052 0078.
- Kent If you live in Kent and are interested in adoption please contact:Kent County Council's Initial Enquiries Team on 0845 330 2968 for an information pack or visit Kent County Council's website.
Next steps
If you live within the areas we work and are interested in adopting through Coram, please contact your nearest Coram Adoption Team (see 'Find out more' (top right)).
Also, check our Events pages to find out if an informal drop-in session for people wishing to find out more about adoption is taking place near you.
Find out more...
Coram Adoption London
49 Mecklenburgh Sq. WC1N 2QA
T: 020 7520 0383
E: adoption@coram.org.uk
Coram Concurrent Planning
49 Mecklenburgh Sq. WC1N 2QA
T: 020 7278 1432
E: concurrentplanning@coram.org.uk
Coram Adopt Anglia
9, Petersfield, Cambs CB1 1BB
T: 01223 357 397
E: anglia@coram-aap.org.uk
Coram Adoption East Midlands
Lacey Crt, Charnwood Rd, Shepshed, Leic LE12 9QY
T: 01509 600 306
E: AdoptEastMids@coram.org.uk
>