Press releases

BAAF celebrates National Adoption Week and highlights need for adoption support

Issued: 8 November 2006

Adoption organisations across Scotland are to draw attention to the need for financial commitment to forthcoming legislation which will increase access to adoption support.

At a reception organised by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering at The Scottish Parliament on the 8th November, adoption organisations have chosen to celebrate the important part adoption plays in improving outcomes for hundreds of vulnerable children separated from their birth families. They will also look forward to the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill being discussed in the Parliament, becoming law within the next few weeks. Amongst the Bill’s proposals are provisions to increase the entitlement to and availability of support for all those involved in adoption.

Barbara Hudson, Director of BAAF Scotland, says: “National Adoption Week aims to help find families for the hundreds of children across Scotland waiting for permanent and loving homes. Families taking on children who have had a very difficult start to life need to know that they will receive the support they need. We are delighted the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill addresses the need for better adoption support and want to make sure there is financial commitment to ensure that the proposals in the Bill are actually translated into practice.

She adds: “The children waiting are from all sorts of backgrounds: some are babies, but many are older children and others are brothers and sisters who need to grow up together. We need families to come forward who can care for these children and we must make sure the support those families need is available.”

She added, “Adoption support is an extremely important issue, which is why all of us in the voluntary adoption agencies in Scotland have joined together for this event.
Our work is vital, and we hope that the new legislation will enable us to develop our services further.

The organisations hosting this event are: Barnardos, Birthlink, Scottish Adoption, St Andrews Children’s Society, St Margaret’s Children’s Society and Adoption UK, and the British Association for Adoption & Fostering.

The reception will be attended by some 80 guests, including adopted people, their parents and birth relatives and MSPs

Peter Peacock, Minister for Education and Young People, who will also attend, says:
“We want every child to get the best possible start in life and that’s why we’re reforming our adoption legislation to ensure it meets the needs of today’s youngsters, providing the stability and permanence that these vulnerable children require.
“Of course, legislation only provides a framework. It needs the work of local authorities and the voluntary sector - and above all the care and enthusiasm of those adopting - to secure better outcomes through adoption. That’s why I support National Adoption Week which helps attract potential adopters for children awaiting adoption and also promotes wider community understanding about the challenges that face adopted children and adoptive parents.”
Holly van Gulden, herself an adoptive parent and an internationally recognised trainer, counsellor and author on adoption, will talk about her work supporting carers and professionals in the field of adoption. 

National Adoption Week aims to help find families for children across the UK waiting for permanent and loving homes.

Notes

For a free pack about adopting a child, call 08450 560120 or visit www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk

BAAF Scotland, in conjunction with the other organisations, has contributed to producing a manifesto addressing the needs of looked after and accommodated children.  This publication was launched at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 27 September 2006 and can be found on the SIRCC website www.sircc.strath.ac.uk.

For more information, please call BAAF press office on 020 7421 2632/3 or email daisy.oclee@baaf.org.uk For out of hours enquiries, call the press office mobile on 07767 444 589.