Adoption Focus has highlighted the increasingly urgent need for adopters with its new campaign, ‘They’re Still Waiting’. Previously, children awaiting adoption typically faced an average wait of eighteen months; however, recent data shows this has now extended to around two years.
For many children, like Caitlyn McLean* who found her permanent family after a year-long wait at the age of six, the search for a loving home can be a lengthy and emotional journey. Caitlyn’s adoptive mother, Sarah, a teacher from the West Midlands, emphasises the importance of offering every child a chance at family life regardless of their age.
“There are so many children waiting for adoption,” Sarah explains. “Some people might think older children miss out on ‘firsts’, but those moments happen at any age – like trying chocolate for the first time or sleeping in a tent.”
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Although adopting an older child may come with challenges due to past experiences, Sarah notes that adopting parents benefit from specialised training and support preparing them to meet these needs. “The process is reflective and equips you well,” she says.
Meeting Caitlyn was an emotional milestone for Sarah and her husband Martin, who had prepared their home thoughtfully to welcome her, including decorating her bedroom and giving her a cuddly polar bear, which she still cherishes. The family spent quality time fostering security together during Caitlyn’s early days in her new family.
Now a teenager, Caitlyn values her Life Story book, which records her journey before adoption, highlights family memories, and charts her aspirations for the future.
Despite the dedicated efforts of adoptive families, there remains a significant gap between the number of children needing homes and the availability of adopters. More than 3,000 children currently seek adoptive families, yet only about half as many adopters are available. Some children have waited over two years, with the longest recorded wait stretching over four years.
Sarah encourages prospective adopters to remain open-minded about the age range of children they might adopt. “We set a wide range, from newborn to eight years old, which allowed us to find the right match. For us, age mattered less than providing a stable, loving home.”
To support children still awaiting placement, Adoption Focus is unveiling its updated campaign film at The Mockingbird Cinema on Thursday, 10 September. This poignant film focuses on a single child awaiting their forever family, aiming to challenge preconceived notions around adoption and inspire more people to consider it.
Anna Sharkey, CEO of Adoption Focus, emphasises the campaign’s message: “Every child waiting represents a part of childhood that could be filled with belonging and security. We want to remind people there’s a child behind every statistic, a bedroom waiting to be filled, and a child ready to say, ‘you belong here.’ Increasing awareness can help those who may have ruled themselves out reconsider taking that first step towards adopting.”
*Names have been changed to protect identities.