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Charity calls for fresh approach to finding families for children

Issued: 3 November 04

At a parliamentary reception today to mark National Adoption Week, Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Children, Young People and Families, will hear from the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) about the need to be much more creative in the recruitment of families for the 4,000 children waiting. Felicity Collier, chief executive of BAAF, said "Children in their teens who never found an adoptive family tell us that they wished their social workers had tried harder to find them a family. One in four children needing adoption do not receive a single enquiry and we must explore every avenue to find more families for children".

Pictures of children have a huge power to inspire and BAAF has teamed up with the Sun and GMTV for National Adoption Week to profile children who are waiting. Although this can make unsettling viewing, these images reach a much wider audience than traditional publicity.

BAAF is also conducting a feasibility study into the pros and cons of featuring children on the internet to help find new families for them. Early results from a survey of the general public show that 64% of respondents support the idea. One respondent said: "I believe many people are worried to make the first move to consider adoption. Being able to see and read about the children and what is involved in adoption before having to discuss it with anyone would make it easier to start looking into".

BAAF will also call on government to make funds available to support adoptive families so that help promised in the Adoption and Children Act 2002 can be delivered. It will ask government to recognise the unique contribution made by voluntary adoption agencies by awarding them new funding to recruit and support more families.

Ends

Contact:

Gabriella Brooks, Media Manager, 020 7593 2053 or 07767 444 589
Lucy Handford, Media Assistant, 020 7593 2054

Notes to editor

• The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) is the UK's leading adoption and fostering charity. For more information visit www.baaf.org.uk
• The National Adoption Week reception is held at Portcullis House, Westminster and speeches start at 5.00pm.
• Media representatives should contact Lucy Handford (as above) to book a place.