There’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ family, say 65% of Brits – as National Adoption Week highlights adoption journeys of all kinds
A new survey commissioned by You Can Adopt the nationwide adopter recruitment programme, reveals there’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ family, according to 65 per cent of Brits. The survey explored attitudes to family diversity, to highlight that ‘the journey to a family is not always a traditional one.’ The survey also revealed that the vast majority of the public (87 per cent) feel it’s important to teach children that families come in all shapes and sizes, and that this promotes acceptance of children from non-traditional family units.
This year’s National Adoption Week hopes to increase understanding of modern adoption and show that ‘the journey to a family is not always a traditional one.’ At Diagrama, we are part of the You Can Adopt campaign to recruit new adopters. Juan and Miguel adopted a son in 2022 with us. The couple were keen to adopt and wanted to ensure that they used an agency that was LGBTQ+ inclusive and as friendly as possible. In October 2022 their new son was placed with them, “There are no words to describe how much our whole life has changed and what our child means to us. Being parents is the most wonderful, rewarding and at the same time hardest experience we have ever faced. Sometimes it is not easy, but it is worth it every day. Love reaches a new level never before experienced. When you love someone, you do it from the heart, but our child is part of our heart, everything that hurts him hurts you, and every achievement is an immense joy. “Your whole life changes, your life as a couple goes to another level, we are no longer “you and me” now we are “us” as a family.”
Kate Patel, our Head of Fostering and Adoption said, “This You Can Adopt survey for National Adoption Week is very important. New adoption data shows there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of children (with a plan for adoption) not yet matched with an adoptive family, in 2023-4, compared to the previous year. This means there are 780 more children not yet placed with a family, than there are approved adopters waiting to be matched with a child. Sadly, with fewer potential adopters coming forward nearly half of all children face delays of over 18 months to be placed with an adoptive family.If you would like to talk to us about starting your journey to adoption, please don’t delay, my team are ready to answer any questions.”
Twenty percent of all adoptions in the UK are from same sex adopters and Diagrama welcomes all adoption enquires regardless of age, faith, sexuality, ethnicity or whether single or in a couple. Call us today to find out more: 0800 802 1910.