Press releases

Minister backs National Adoption Week and pledges to improve the current adoption system

Issued: 07 November 2005

Robert Brown, Deputy Education Minister, is to show his support for National Adoption Week by welcoming adoptive families to parliament.

The event, to take place on Monday 7 November, will allow children and their parents to meet the Minister and have an opportunity to put across their views on adoption.

Robert Brown, Deputy Education Minister says:

"Adoption is one way to ensure stability and security in the lives of our most vulnerable children. It is vital that prospective adopters come forward to make adoption an option for more children. I am therefore delighted to support National Adoption Week and to welcome adoptive families to the Parliament. This is an excellent opportunity to focus on real life, first-hand experience of the adoption process.

"The Executive is committed to improving adoption by streamlining legal processes and support arrangements so that children and their adoptive families get the best service possible. That´s why we will legislate at the earliest opportunity to overhaul and improve the current system. These changes will ensure that adoption continues to provide a safe, secure future for those children who can no longer live with their families, helping them to realise their full potential."

National Adoption Week is a UK-wide campaign organised by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) aims to help find families for up to 4,000 children across the UK who are waiting to be adopted.

Barbara Hudson, BAAF Scotland Director, says:

"I believe passionately in the importance of families. We know that children do best in life if they have a secure and loving family of their own – a family which will help them feel strong and confident about who they are, who will always be there for them and who will help them achieve at school, make friends and take their place in society.

"There are many children in care whose early experiences may have been difficult or traumatic. In Scotland we particularly need loving and permanent homes for brothers and sisters who need to stay together. BAAF knows that many children are hoping that this week the right family for them will come forward. We urge people to phone up and find out more. Let us hope this year more children find families than ever before."

Notes to Editors

For more information, contact Daisy O´Clee on 020 7593 2053 / 07767 444 589 or Lucy Handford on 020 7593 2054 or email daisy.oclee@baaf.org.uk / lucy.handford@baaf.org.uk

Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption can request a free pack about adopting a child by calling 08450 560120 or visit www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk