CVAA has long called for a full review of adoption support, including through our July 2025 joint open letter with Adoption UK, Coram, Kinship, Barnardo’s and Family Rights Group. We therefore welcomed the launch of this consultation and the Government’s stated commitment to listening to the sector. The need for reform is indisputable, but we must get this right for children and families.

Our consultation response, available to read here, balances ambition with pragmatism. We recognise the financial constraints facing both central and local government, and the reality that these pressures shape policy decisions across children’s social care. But the evidence is clear: the needs of adopted children are increasingly complex and therefore reform must be structured to meet the needs of these children and young people in particular. For this reason, we have not supported proposals that risk diverting funding away from essential specialist therapeutic support.

“We’re pleased to have had this opportunity to contribute, and now we need the government to truly listen, take stock, and be unafraid to change direction where necessary. Across the sector, the message is consistent and urgent: the current proposals do not go far enough. Adopted children have complex needs which frequently require sustained, specialist therapeutic support alongside core early help for families, and that demands meaningful investment and a coherent model. Research, lived experience and professional expertise all confirm this, and now is the government’s time to respond appropriately.

VAAs know what works for families and that is why our response sets out some core guiding principles such as embedding support early, providing the right help at the right time without delay, prioritising consistent relationships with professionals and committing to a lifelong approach. We therefore stand ready to work with Government to design a system that reflects these principles and delivers for children.”

– Alice Talbot, Director of Strategy and Policy, CVAA

Our response also reiterates CVAA’s strong opposition to a devolved funding model, first set out in summer 2025. We believe devolving funding would undermine equitable access to support, widen existing regional disparities, and risk marginalising the voluntary sector, despite clear evidence of VAAs’ leadership in delivering outstanding as determined through independent inspections by Ofsted), trauma‑informed support.

You can read our full consultation response here.

8^th May 2026

CVAA CEO, Satwinder Sandhu commented:

The matter of forced adoption right across the UK is one we have been aware of for a long time now and a government apology in England in 2026 is not symbolic, it is essential. The Education Committee has undertaken this inquiry with appropriate diligence and CVAA supports its clear recommendation that the government must issue an unqualified, formal apology to all those affected.

For survivors, an apology is a necessary step in acknowledging the role of the state in enabling practices that caused lifelong harm. As highlighted in the report, many survivors continue to live with shame, stigma, and unresolved trauma and I have personally witnessed this with people I have worked with over the years. The report makes clear that an apology must be more than words — it must be part of a broader process of accountability, redress, and reform. CVAA fully backs the recommendation for an apology to be co-produced with survivors and for this to come with essential funding for support and system reform.

As a sector we must also understand our role in adoption practice and continue to push for change beyond an apology. Whilst practice may have improved, some birth parents and adoptees continue to experience injustice, and our legal construct of adoption is not aligned with human rights legislation. This poses challenges to the whole concept of modern adoption which is primarily for children in care who need permanence outside of family and kinship arrangements.

CVAA is already engaged in thinking about what changes are necessary for the future of adoption through the lens of social justice, and we look forward to working with the adoptees, as well as the sector and government, to help shape a new foundation. Additionally, whilst not the focus of an adoption apology, we cannot separate out this work on reform from the current focus on the support needs of the adoption community itself. It is essential we take a holistic view, but for now we look forward to a formal apology from the government as a critical step on this journey.  

The Education Committee report is available to read here.

The government consultation is available to read and respond to here. The press release issued by the Department for Education is available to read here.

CVAA CEO Satwinder Sandhu commented:

CVAA welcomes the launch of the government consultation on the future of adoption and kinship support today. This is a deeply complex and critical subject which affects the lives of many people. We must get this right for children and families given that so many have encountered issues accessing the right support, or sometimes any support, for too long. Meaningful consultation with children, families and the whole sector is pivotal, so we are pleased to see the government respond to our calls for this, alongside announcing increased funding for pilots and the new trial of proactive support when children transition from primary to secondary school.

In England 22% of all children find adoptive homes through a Voluntary Adoption Agency (VAA), and lifelong support remains a key reason why prospective adopters choose a VAA. The consultation outlines a range of proposals that focus primarily on early support, delivered through statutory services, rather than on the role of cross-sector specialist therapeutic support for children with more complex needs. Early support is essential, but just one piece of the larger puzzle. The disproportionate focus on universal and early services gives us cause for concern given what is known from research about early trauma and its links with overlapping developmental, social, emotional, attachment and mental health difficulties, making the needs of this group of children starkly different from their peers.

Our experience is that most adopted children, if not all, will require additional support at some point. As universal support is already established and effective across many regional and voluntary adoption agencies, it should not be the focal point of these reform efforts. What is currently missing is timely, effective and accessible high-level support when families need it most, as demonstrated by the growing evidence base from the adoption community itself. This should be alongside early support, so this is where we would place greater emphasis within the consultation and we believe this is where some of the reforms to the ASGSF are most needed. Whilst we welcome the drive for a joined-up delivery model between statutory and health partners, the support provided must be adoption informed and robustly funded, so it is available for as long as children and young people need it.

CVAA is looking forward to responding fully to the consultation, in close collaboration with our members and their adoptive children and families. We will be advocating for a rounded approach to adoption support, rooted in early consultation and triage which routes families to the best support for them in the first instance, whether lower level or higher level (via assessment). A better system will be defined by how quickly and reliably families can access the most appropriate, and effective, support for them.

Phil joins the charity from Salford Foundation, where he has worked for more than sixteen years and led as CEO for the past seven. During his time here he initiated and led a wide range of projects and services focused on tackling disadvantage and helping people to overcome barriers so that they can live their best lives.

Phil brings with him a strong background in the voluntary and community sector, having begun his career as a Youth and Community Worker in both voluntary and statutory environments. Throughout his career, he has been committed to guiding and supporting people to overcome their fears and reach their potential.

Phil said: “I’m thrilled to have been appointed as the next CEO of Caritas Care and look forward to being part of and working alongside the Caritas Care team. The work that Caritas Care does on a daily basis is totally inspirational. From reading the job pack, exploring the website and meeting people during the interview process, I became more and more excited about the possibility of being part of Caritas Care. It will be a huge privilege to play my part in supporting everything the charity does in the years ahead.”

Although the services delivered by Salford Foundation and Caritas Care differ, Phil recognises a strong shared purpose. He said, “There is a clear golden thread between the two organisations – helping people to overcome challenges so they can thrive. That commitment has driven my career and it’s what motivates me.”

Outside of Phil’s professional role, he is actively involved in his local community. He lives with his wife and his daughter. He plays a leadership role within his local Methodist Church and helps run a large ‘Boys Brigade and Girls’ Association serving families in a highly deprived community. Phil is also a Trustee at The Lowry in Salford Quays and has a keen interest in arts and culture.

Phil added, “I’m really looking forward to getting to know colleagues, partners and supporters over the coming months and working together to build on Caritas Care’s incredible legacy.”

As the charity welcomes Phil and new beginnings at Caritas Care, it’s also with heavy hearts that they also say a fond farewell to Susan Swarbrick. Susan, who leaves to start her retirement later this month, has been at the helm for the past six years and has worked for the charity for over 26 years in various roles, from Fostering Manager to Head of Children’s Services. Her leadership, dedication and passion have left a lasting mark on Caritas Care and she will be greatly missed.

Andy Bennett, Chair of Trustees at Caritas Care said, “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are delighted with Phil’s appointment and look forward to welcoming him to Caritas Care. We are confident he will build on the strong leadership that has always been at the heart of the charity.”

This year’s Big Adoption Day theme centres on adoption support, an extremely important subject and one which couldn’t be more timely. In 2025, the provision and adequacy of support for adopted children and families was thrust into the media spotlight when the government made changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) in England, which CVAA has strongly opposed and campaigned against. Then in December, the BBC released its File on Four investigation Adoption: The Blame Game, which told the stories of families who were let down by the State and insufficiently supported. Meanwhile in Scotland a family won an out-of-court settlement and apology from a council for failing to support them when their adopted teenage son was in crisis.

It is important therefore that VAAs are able to have honest conversations about adoption support, but the issue is nuanced. On the one hand, CVAA and our member agencies have been dismayed by the ASGSF cuts in England. We have long campaigned for greater investment from governments in all four nations into adoption support for families, including earlier support, less bureaucracy, more timely access to specialist therapeutic support, and support around maintaining children’s lifelong relationships with birth families.

On the other hand, we remain proud of the lifelong adoption support voluntary adoption agencies commit to and provide to their families, which has been a hallmark of the VAA sector for decades.

• VAAs know that adoption is a lifelong journey so don’t have arbitrary timeframes after which families can’t access support. All VAA families can access support at any time, even long after the adoption.
• Being independent nonprofit organisations helps VAAs provide support quickly and flexibly, without long waiting lists.
• Every VAA is officially inspected and rated highly, with support often a strong feature.
• As nonprofits VAAs have the ability to fundraise to bolster the support offer for families.

The recent BBC investigation reported that some parents feel they are sold a lie about adoption support. This is unacceptable. No one should ever be told that ‘love is all you need’ to care for adopted children, as this is false. The needs of adopted children are complex because of the trauma and loss that they have experienced, and parents need intensive training and support, which adapts over time and ramps up and down as needed. Our most important job as charities and nonprofit adoption organisations is being upfront and honest about the realities of adoption and the support available, enabling everyone considering adoption to make informed choices, at their own pace, free from any pressure.

The adoption support provided by VAAs is good – often great – but not limitless. Every VAA will have a ‘core offer’ of adoption support which is unique to their agency. Our expectation and ask of all our members is that this is very clearly outlined on websites, brochures and so on. Usually the core offer will include training, ad hoc advice and guidance, peer support for adopters, events like family days and meet ups, signposting to special services, initial consultation/advice on needs assessments for children and young people and so on.

But many of our members go above and beyond this. Adoption Matters for example has a multidisciplinary team providing a range of therapeutic interventions. PACT runs CATCH, an extensive online platform to support adopters and other carers with resources on parenting and trauma, complete with e-learning modules, webinars and forums. And Family Futures is primarily a complex trauma service and therapy centre, as well as an adoption agency dedicated to training therapeutic parents.

In England, the ASGSF has for the last 10 years made therapeutic support available for adopted children (and more recently kinship children and previously looked after children with a Child Arrangements Order). This Fund currently remains although the amount of funding available per child has been reduced. The government in England is currently considering reforming the Fund and is expected to launch a process of public engagement about this imminently. You can track news updates on the ASGSF on our news page here and we will continue to publish updates as the situation progresses. We also know that adoption support is high on the agenda for governments across the other nations in the UK.

So what can anyone interested in adoption do to ensure they are well informed before considering next steps?

1. Research – look at websites and request information packs to understand more about the agency and what services they offer.
2. Dialogue – pick up the phone or attend an information event. Ask hard questions and request specific details.
3. Shop around – contact different agencies, both nonprofit and statutory, to understand the differences between them.

A full list of VAA events taking place on Big Adoption Day is here.

Big Adoption Day, led by the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) and the UK’s first children’s charity Coram, will see participating agencies hosting in-person and online events in their local areas, and celebrating the real-life stories of families who have adopted, to encourage anyone interested in exploring adoption to find out more.

A full list of VAA events being held across the country is available HERE.

Satwinder Sandhu, CEO of CVAA, said:

“Across 2025 we have seen a lot of media attention on the availability of support for adopted children and families. This won’t have escaped the awareness of anyone thinking about adoption – many will have questions and concerns, and it is the job of adoption agencies to help inform people, honestly and transparently. Big Adoption Day 2026 is therefore all about inviting dialogue with voluntary agencies, through a range of events and drop-ins. Every person who may be interested in adopting a child is owed clear and accurate information about what they can expect from their agency, over a timespan of years and even decades.  All voluntary agencies see this as a core responsibility, as well as providing high quality lifelong support to families as they have historically always done, in a flexible and responsive way.”

3,000 children are currently waiting to be adopted across England, of which half have been waiting more than 18 months since entering care (1,500). There is an urgent need for more prospective adoptive parents to come forward to provide permanent, loving homes for these children.

VAAs are independent, not-for-profit organisations, offering a personalised service to adopters from all backgrounds. They have a wealth of experience having found homes for thousands of children with adoptive families, particularly those who often wait the longest in care, including older children, those in sibling groups, and children from the global majority or with disabilities. VAAs also provide all of their adoptive families with lifelong support, which is flexible and responsive to what families need, whenever they need it.

Across the UK VAAs spend roughly £7 million on delivering adoption support, not including the government-funded therapeutic support they deliver (e.g. via the Adoption and Special Guardianship Fund in England). In 2024-25 VAAs spent over 15,000 hours providing therapeutic support to adopted children, and provided support to almost 9,500 recipients overall.

For more information about your local VAA, visit the CVAA agency finder here.

Learn more understand more about adopting with a VAA here.

Links to VAA events

• Adopters for Adoption (England) – online event details here
• Adoption Focus (Midlands – full details of areas they cover here) – online event details here
• Adoption Matters (North West, North East, Yorkshire & the Humber, Stoke, Staffordshire, Shropshire) – online event details here
• ARC Adoption NE (North East from Northumberland across to Cumbria and down to North Yorkshire) – face-to-face event details here
• Barnardo’s (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) – in-store event in at Barnardo’s Glasgow (Barnardos, 250 Great Western Road, Glasgow G4 9EJ) on Thursday 22nd January, 11am-1pm
• Caritas Care (North West, including Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and Cumbria) – drop-in event details here, online event details here
• CCS Adoption (Bristol and South West) – in-person event details here
• Coram (London and surrounding areas) – in-person event details here (Meet our Adopters: a safe space to meet adopters and hear about their journey, ask questions and connect). Details are also available about Coram’s partnership with GLL, offering 500 free three-month memberships to Better leisure centres for adoptive families across the country, and Coram x National Theatre: Ballet Shoes partnership.
• Diagrama Adoption (London, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Kent) – Coffee and cake drop-in here, online event details here
• Family Futures (London) – online event details here
• Kibble Adoption (Scotland) – online event details here, open day details here.
• PACT (Southern and central England) – event details here (drop ins at Reading, London, Brighton and Milton Keynes offices and an online event)
• Scottish Adoption and Fostering (Scotland) – online event details here
• St David’s Adoption Service (Wales) – online event details here. The team will also be at John Lewis Cardiff from 10am–4pm, chatting all things VAA adoption in Wales.
• St Andrew’s Children’s Society (Scotland – within a 60 mile radius of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Elgin) – online event details here, online event for single prospective parents here.
• St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society (Scotland) – in-person open event details here
• Yorkshire Adoption Agency (Yorkshire and surrounding areas) – in-person event at Sheffield Ecclesall Road Library on Saturday 24th January at 10am, and online event details here

Visit CVAA’s agency finder to find your local VAA.

Find out more about what a VAA is here.

Full information about VAA events (ordered alphabetically by VAA name)

Adopters for Adoption (England)

7.15pm, Wednesday 28^th January 2026, online information event– please note this event is not on Big Adoption Day itself

Information events are a great way to learn more about the adoption process and how you’d be supported, both before and after the adoption order. This online event will begin with a live presentation from a team manager, covering all of the need-to-know topics of adoption. Where possible, approved adopters from Adopters for Adoption will share their adoption story, and the event will conclude with a Q&A session. Book onto the event here.

Adoption Focus (Midlands – full details of areas they cover here)

6pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – Free online adoption information event

Adoption Focus’s online information events are a great way to learn more about adopting, the adoption process and how Adoption Focus can support you. They begin with a live presentation from a member of the team, covering all aspects of adoption and the Adoption Focus service. Following this you’ll be given the opportunity to arrange a private phone call or video chat with one of their experienced adoption social workers in which you can have your questions answered and talk about next steps.

Whether you want a general overview of how things work or have specific questions you’d like to talk through, the team are happy to hear from you.

Please call on 0121 779 0891 or email [email protected] to book a place at this event. You’ll be sent an information pack and all the details you need. If you’re not able to make it to one of these events, please get in touch and the team will arrange an alternative way of giving you the information you need.

Visit here to book.

Adoption Matters (North West, North East, Yorkshire & the Humber, Stoke, Staffordshire, Shropshire)

7pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – Online information event

Attending an Adoption Matters online adoption information event is a convenient way to find out more about adoption and this children’s charity.

Join online from the comfort of your home, ideally with a camera-enabled device, and allow the team, which will be led by experienced enquiry team members and a social worker, to share a presentation, walk you through the adoption process, and explain the ongoing support they offer. There will be no pressure to proceed with your enquiry following attendance – the team will walk alongside you at your pace, with honest guidance and helpful information.

Events typically last 60–90 minutes, depending on participation, and they are open to anybody who is interested in adoption that lives in the geographical coverage area, which includes: The North West, The North East, Yorkshire & the Humber, Stoke, Staffordshire, Shropshire.

If you live just outside of these areas, the team may still be able to assist you, so please do contact the team to discuss.

Visit here to book.

ARC Adoption NE (North East from Northumberland, across to Cumbria and down to North Yorkshire)

6-8pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – Face to Face Adoption Information Event at ARC Adoption NE office in Sunderland

Join ARC Adoption NE at its office in Sunderland for its first face to face information event of 2026 to find out more about adoption and the children in need of loving, permanent families.

Event Details: Wednesday 21^st January 2026, 18.00 to 20.00 (please note that this is not a drop in session – the event runs for approx. 2 hrs). Book a place here.

At this event, which is being hosted in conjunction with Big Adoption Day, you will have the opportunity to meet some of ARC Adoption’s friendly team who will tell you more about the adoption process and the extensive support they provide to their children and families. They will also be joined by a Dad who will share his experience of adopting twice with the group, and help answer any questions you may have.

The team is really looking forward to meeting you and helping you discover whether adoption is the right path for you and your family – now or in the future. It could be the start of an exciting 2026.

If you can’t make this information event, click here to see upcoming dates.

Barnardo’s (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

11am-1pm, Thursday 22nd January 2026 – in-store event at Barnardos, 250 Great Western Road, Glasgow G4 9EJ

Pop into the Barnardo’s store on Great Western Road, Glasgow, to have an informal chat about fostering and adoption. More information here.

Caritas Care (North West, including Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and Cumbria)

12-2pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – Drop-in event at 218 Tulketh Road, Preston PR2 1ES.

If you’re considering adoption, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about growing your family with the experienced, dedicated support of VAAs. Caritas Care is a not-for-profit, independent adoption agency known for our personalised approach to supporting families from all backgrounds. Its team has extensive experience placing children of all ages, including sibling groups and children with disabilities, in loving homes.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Real Stories:Meet adoptive parents who will share personal stories and insights into the adoption journey.
• Meet The Team: Their friendly social workers will be on hand to answer any questions about the process and lifelong support they provide.
• Relaxed Atmosphere:Enjoy coffee, cake, and conversation in a warm, no-pressure environment.

Everyone interested in adoption – now or in the future – is welcome to attend. Caritas Care is especially proud to work with families from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ and global majority communities.

Please book your place HERE to help plan for numbers and refreshments.

6.30-7.30pm, Wednesday 21^st January – Online information event

If you’re considering adoption, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about growing your family with the experienced, dedicated support of VAAs.

What to Expect: Events are led by a dedicated Adoption Social Worker who will walk you through the adoption process step-by-step. There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and to also hear the stories from adoptive parents who will share their journey with you.

Why Attend?

• Get answers to your questions and ease any uncertainties
• Connect with people and understand the process on a personal level.
• Gain the knowledge and support so you can make an informed decision.
• Join us and take the first step on your adoption journey.

Book your place HERE

CCS Adoption (Bristol and South West)

6.30-8.30pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – in-person event at The Steam Crane Pub, 4 North Street, Bristol, BS3 1HT

As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, CCS Adoption offers a personalised service to adopters from all backgrounds. It has extensive experience placing children who often wait the longest in care, such as older children, sibling groups, and children from the global majority or with disabilities. Its commitment doesn’t end at placement: it provides lifelong, flexible adoption support tailored to the needs of adoptive families.

CCS is hosting a free in-person Big Adoption Day event for anyone considering adoption at The Steam Crane Pub. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the team, learn about the adoption process, and hear inspiring stories from families who have adopted through CCS Adoption. Book yourself a place now by filling out the form here.

Coram Adoption (London and surrounding areas)

5.30-7.30pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – Meet the Adopters Evening (in-person) at Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ

Meet our Adopters: a safe space to meet adopters and hear about their journey, ask questions and connect.

From first steps to panel and family finding. Come and join Coram with any questions you may have and to meet others who have been going through the adoption assessment. Coram looks forward to seeing you! Book here.

Diagrama Adoption (South London, Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex)

11am-2pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – Coffee & Cake Meet with Diagrama (Drop-ins Very Welcome!) at Airport House, 265 Purley Way, Croydon CR0 0XZ.

A friendly, no-pressure drop-in for anyone who is considering their adoption journey. Meet the team, ask your questions, grab a coffee.

Click here to reserve a spot.

6pm-7.30pm, Wednesday 14^th January 2026, free online information session – please note this event is not on Big Adoption Day itself

Join this free online information event hosted by experienced social workers and adoption professionals from Diagrama Adoption, a not-for-profit voluntary adoption agency.

This friendly, no-pressure session gives you the chance to understand the adoption process, hear real adoption stories and explore whether adoption could be the right path for you.

What You’ll Learn

• The adoption journey – What’s involved, how long it takes, and what to expect
• Who can adopt – Eligibility, common myths, and what truly matters
• Matching with a child – How the team finds the right child or children for your family
• Support for adopters – The ongoing, personalised support it offers before, during and after placement
• Real stories – Hear from the team and families who have adopted with Diagrama

Whether you’re just beginning to think about adoption or feel ready to take the next step, this event will give you clear, reliable guidance to help you make an informed decision.

Click here to reserve a spot.

Family Futures CIC (London)

6.30-8pm, Wednesday 21st January 2026 – online information evening

iAdopt is a unique, interactive, and therapeutically informed London-based Voluntary Adoption Agency (VAA). Since 2008, iAdopt has been dedicated to assessing, approving, and placing children with adoptive families across the UK.

This Big Adoption Day attendees will have the opportunity to explore the journey of adoption and learn about iAdopt’s bespoke assessment process which equips prospective parents with an understanding of the impact of trauma and provides therapeutic tools to support their child’s development.

Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with their social work team, hear from experienced adopters, and learn how the iAdopt tailored approach empowers families to thrive. Book your place here or contact at [email protected]

PACT (Parents And Children Together), (Southern and central England)

6.30-8.30pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – online information event

Parents And Children Together (PACT) believes that every child deserves the warmth and stability of a loving home. As an independent adoption charity, PACT has been consistently rated outstanding by Ofsted since 2014, a testament to its commitment to finding permanent families for children waiting in care.

Join PACT for a virtual adoption information event, where you’ll discover the joys of parenting through adoption and the comprehensive support on offer to families for life. Hear firsthand from adopters about their experiences, engage with senior social workers, and get all your questions answered.

To request to book onto this event, please fill out PACT’s adoption enquiry form here or call the team on 0300 456 4800.

Meet the PACT team – Wednesday 21^st January 2026 (in-person drop ins)

This Big Adoption Day, come along and meet the teams in London / Reading / Brighton / Milton Keynes. Ask any questions you may have and find out more about adopting through PACT. To request to book your half an hour slot on this event, please fill out the adoption enquiry form here or call the team on 0300 456 4800. Full address given upon booking. PACT would love to see you there!

Reading – 10am-4.30pm (RG1 4QS)

Brighton – 10am-3pm (BN1 1HW)

London (Vauxhall) – 10am-3.30pm (SE11 5RR)

Milton Keynes – 10am-3.30pm (MK16 9EY)

Kibble Adoption (Scotland)

10am-4pm, Wednesday 21st January 2026 – open day at Kibble Community-Based Services, 1 Station Road, Paisley PA1 2SB

7pm-8pm, Wednesday 21st January 2026 – online information session

Scottish Adoption and Fostering (Scotland)

12.30pm to 1.30pm, Wednesday 21st January 2026 – online information session over lunchtime

Join members of the team and some adoptive parents this Big Adoption Day to get a better understanding of what adoption might mean for you and your family. This is an opportunity to hear from others, ask questions and to learn more about the in-house Therapy Centre and life-long support that can be provided for your family if you adopt through Scottish Adoption and Fostering.

Who can adopt? Adopters come from all walks of life. Single, married, LGBTQ+, all religions and ethnicities, with or without children — if you can provide a safe, loving home, you can be considered. We focus on your ability to care for and nurture a child, not your marital status, wealth, or background.

Reserve a spot here. If you have any questions about the session, feel free to get in touch with Tina at [email protected]. The team runs multiple events throughout the year, so if this one doesn’t suit you, please reach out to find a more suitable time.

St David’s Adoption Service (Wales)

10am-4pm, Wednesday 21st January 2026 – drop-in at John Lewis Cardiff, The Hayes, CF10 1EG

St David’s Adoption Service will be at John Lewis Cardiff from 10am–4pm for Big Adoption Day, chatting all things VAA adoption in Wales. Come along to meet the team, ask questions, and find out more about the adoption process and how St David’s supports families across Wales.

10am-12pm, Tuesday 20^th January 2026 – Introduction to Adoption Workshop, a two-hour online session. Please note this event is not on Big Adoption Day itself.

St David’s invites all prospective adoptive families to attend its Introduction to Adoption Workshop—a two-hour online session designed to provide essential information about adoption. This workshop helps you explore whether adoption is the right path for you and your family.

The session covers the following key topics:

• Who we are: An overview of St David’s Adoption Service and the difference between a Voluntary Adoption Agency (VAA) and a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA).
• What we look for in adoptive parents: Insight into the qualities and attributes we seek in prospective adopters.
• The adoption process: A step-by-step guide to what you can expect on your adoption journey.
• The children we support: Understanding the needs and experiences of children with a plan for adoption.
• Real experiences: Hearing directly from an adoptive parent about their journey and their experience with St David’s.
• Therapeutic parenting: An introduction to this approach and its importance in adoption.
• Next steps: Guidance on how to proceed if you’re ready to take the next step.

Workshops are held monthly and are usually facilitated by Stage One Manager, Dan, alongside an experienced social worker. The team strives to create a welcoming and informal atmosphere where participants feel comfortable asking questions.

To book visit here.

St Andrew’s Children’s Society (Scotland – within a 60 mile radius of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Elgin)

6-7pm, Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – Online information event

St Andrew’s Children’s Society is very pleased to be holding an Online Adoption Information Event as part of Big Adoption Day 2026. The event will take place virtually over Teams, and you can sign up on Eventbrite here.

At the event you’ll hear about the adoption process and from a St Andrew’s adopter, who will speak about their experiences of adopting and answer any questions you have. St Andrew’s Children’s Society welcomes adoption enquiries from people who follow a faith, those who don’t, single people, couples and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

If you would like to find out more about adopting, but can’t make it the event, please call 0131 454 3370 or email [email protected] and they will get back to you.

Find out more here.

7-8pm, Wednesday 21st January 2026 – Online information event for single prospective adopters

This event will take place virtually over Teams, and you can sign up on Eventbrite here.

The team will tell you about the adoption process and one of their many single adopters will be joining to tell you about their experiences of adopting as a solo adopter. They will be happy to answer your questions.

Find out more here.

St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society (Scotland)

Wednesday 21^st January 2026 – in-person open event at 26 Newton Place, Glasgow G3 7PY

If you would like to find out more about adoption, the team at St Margaret’s will be available throughout the day on January 21^st to meet in person at their office in Charing Cross, Glasgow.

If you cannot make it into the office, the team can arrange a call to answer any questions. Please call or email the office: [email protected]; 0141 332 8371.

Find out more here.

Yorkshire Adoption Agency (Yorkshire and surrounding areas)

10am, Saturday 24th January 2026 – In-person event at Sheffield Ecclesall Road Library

Tuesday 27th January 2026 – ChatAdopt session. Please note this event is not on Big Adoption Day itself.

ChatAdopt is open to anyone looking into UK adoption, no matter where you are in your journey. Whether you are wondering about adoption being right for you, all the way through to being registered to start Stage 1 of the process.

The session will give you a brief insight into the UK adoption journey and the process. It will give you the chance to learn more about Yorkshire Adoption Agency and what it provides to its families.  The groups are kept small to give you plenty of time to ask any questions, and they try to have an adopter present to share their experiences adopting with the agency.

Find out more here.

CVAA and Adoption UK, with support from Kinship, Barnardo’s, Coram and CoramBAAF have published this scoping paper to inform the government’s upcoming ‘public engagement in the new year’, a commitment made during the Westminster Hall debate on 4^th September 2025 and reconfirmed recently.

The purpose of this paper is to inform the Department’s planning for the upcoming public consultation, and ensure that:

1. It is a comprehensive consultation which gathers views from children, families, professionals, and wider stakeholders on the future of the ASGSF, with a focus on children’s therapeutic needs as well as seeking views on clearly defined options for future reform.
2. No decisions are taken about future reform before the consultation exercise has been completed, meaning that any future reform should begin no earlier than 2028 to allow time to learn from the consultation and the current RAA pilots.
3. In the meantime, there is a reinstatement of the former ASGSF funding limits – uplifted to account for inflation – or a commitment for the Fund to meet whatever therapeutic needs are identified in an assessment, carried out by a suitably qualified clinician.

The paper takes into consideration the devastating impact of cuts to specialist therapeutic funding made earlier in 2025 and the evidenced need to provide this vital support for adoptees, those in kinship care and their families.

It has been shared with the Children’s Minister and his team, who we look forward to working with in the new year to ensure the consultation is meaningful and genuinely learnt from to positively reshape how support is given to adoptive and kinship families.

Read the scoping paper here.

The BBC has today published findings from a six-month long investigation into the issues being experienced by many adopters seeking support for their families. The numbers cited in this report paint a sad indictment of the adoption system right across the UK. Whilst arrangements for the provision of adoption support vary from nation to nation, the one thing we do know is that every adopted child will need support. CVAA is already involved in work to address inconsistent delivery and access across regions which exacerbates challenges for families who need help more than ever before. But much more action is needed – including investment from government – to amplify the impact of cross sector initiatives such as these.

In today’s report we are presented with accounts of complex support needs not being heard or responded to, and parents being blamed for what is happening. This mirrors exactly what recent research from The Potato Group and the Family Routes study have told us, and what Patch has been highlighting. We know that in England the cuts to the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) have further damaged the adoption support available for families which is why, along with other voluntary sector organisations like Adoption UK, we have been calling for a review of the cuts and a public consultation on adoption support reform, to ensure better and more consistent provision of support across the board in future.

Our CEO Satwinder Sandhu said

We already know that the needs of adopted children are complex because of the trauma and loss that they have experienced before joining their adoptive families. All the evidence is pointing towards the child’s age at adoption being irrelevant when considering the longer-term issues and needs that emerge for almost all children, which indicates the need for support for much longer than the statutory provisions. It is not good enough that adopters who come forward to care for these children are then left feeling isolated, and in fact blamed, for the issues and risks that they are living with. If the government cannot adequately fund adoption support that recognises the cycle of need children are likely to experience, then it should be stepping back and understanding just what it is they are asking of anyone when encouraging anyone to step forward as prospective parents.

Voluntary Adoption Agencies (VAAs) are at the sharp end of these challenges because 80% of the children they find homes for fall into the most complex needs categories, but they don’t directly receive any government funding to deliver support. The huge investments made in adoption support services by VAAs comes from their own fundraising efforts and through generous trusts and grants. This way VAA adopters can continue to access support that is evidence based and lifelong, which families can tap into whenever they need.

This said, we always urge anyone considering adoption to pick up the phone to an agency first and ask for details about the adoption support they routinely provide. We agree that this information and transparency is absolutely essential for prospective adopters who are considering this route to parenthood and the voluntary sector sees this as an integral responsibility.

Much of the evidence points to adoption being a positive outcome for children when they need alternative permanent family care, and it also highlights that when adopted children and young people are supported robustly, the long term economic and social value of that funding is huge. More importantly though, high quality support gives adopted children and young people an opportunity to heal and thrive. So, along with the adoption community and with our sector colleagues, CVAA will continue to lobby governments for more investment and effective, evidence-based system reform.

Throughout the day, we viewed VAAs not just as adoption specialists, but as nonprofit organisations navigating the same pressures as others: sustaining services, adapting fast, and delivering impact.

Here are three standout takeaways for nonprofits – adoption-focused or otherwise:

Commercial language has a place

‘Selling’ isn’t a popular word in the nonprofit world. It can feel at odds with our charitable values and purpose. But can a reticence to embrace a commercial approach hold us back? We can’t escape the fact that nonprofits must win contracts and funding to survive, and only by surviving can we serve our beneficiaries.

If we feel overlooked at times, perhaps it’s time to reframe our pitch. “They will listen to you if you have something that’s in their interests to hear,” said nonprofit consultant Martyn Drake.

Embracing AI isn’t about technical understanding – it’s about mindset

AI is reshaping every sector, and nonprofits are no exception. Tim Flagg, CEO of UKAI, urged us to embrace the overwhelm and stay curious. Let staff experiment. Test, learn, scale what works. If it doesn’t, move on.

Start with a service user journey audit. Where are humans bogged down by repetitive tasks? That’s where AI can help.

And when it comes to trust, don’t talk about AI as a technology. Show what it can do through stories that resonate.

Be on the front foot with digital

Relationships are at the heart of nonprofit work. But today, trust is also built online. People expect seamless, responsive digital experiences – and nonprofits must keep up.

Laurie Kilby, Practice Lead & Co-Founder at Now Foster, shared how their Weekenders programme reimagines fostering for a new audience who demand a different experience. Their small team includes Tech and Experience Leads so that filling out fostering forms is as simple as using your banking app.