A new report from Adoption England and Coram has warned that, by 2030, there may only be enough approved adoptive families to meet 13% of the need from children seeking a permanent home, if registrations decline further. However, the report shows that if adopter registrations returned to the levels achieved just a few years ago, permanent homes could be found for nearly 1,000 more children by 2030. The findings come as a new campaign urges more people to come forward and consider adoption to help turn the tide.

The analysis highlights a growing gap between the number of children needing to be adopted and the number of prospective adopters coming forward. Currently, there are around 1,600 more children in need of adoption than there are approved adopters available to adopt them. This has increased by 52% in the past five years, meanwhile the number of approved adopters has fallen by 46% – raising concerns that more children could spend more time seeking a permanent family in the years ahead.

Children in need of adoption spend an average of 646 days waiting for a permanent home since entering care. For children, these delays are not just numbers on a page. They are days of childhood, valuable days that could have been spent with the stability, security and sense of belonging that a permanent family can provide.

To highlight the impact of these delays, You Can Adopt has launched a new campaign, Every Day is Everything, demonstrating how these outcomes can be changed, if more prospective adopters take the first step in their adoption journey.

The campaign centres around a new film that uses the power of numbers to tell real stories of adoption. Adoptive families, experts and well-known supporters – including former Paralympian and adopted individual Ellie Simmonds OBE, adoptive mother and daughter duo Roxy and Judy Wilson from BBC’s The Traitors, and Post Adoption Social Worker and former Love Island winner Sanam Fagan (née Harrinanan) – share the numbers that define their everyday family lives, before the film reveals the harder-hitting numbers behind the growing need for more adopters.

The campaign celebrates the everyday moments that make up family life, from the morning rush and mealtimes to bedtime chats and everything in-between. While these moments may seem ordinary, for a child who has experienced instability, having someone there every day can mean everything.

There is a family out there for every child needing adoption – but they are yet to come forward. The campaign aims to reassure potential adopters that they do not need to have everything perfectly in place before exploring adoption and that support is available throughout the process and beyond. Some of the biggest barriers people face are concerns that they need to own their home, fit a traditional idea of an adoptive parent, or have everything figured out before coming forward. In reality, adoption agencies are looking for people who can provide a safe, stable and loving home.

Early Permanence, sometimes referred to as fostering for adoption, allows prospective adopters to care for a child from the earliest stages of their time in care, offering them stability and continuity, while decisions are made about the child’s future within the family court process.

VAAs across the UK are encouraging people to consider this pathway, which can help provide children with a secure start in life, avoiding unnecessary moves and disruption.

They have created the guide, Understanding Adoption via Early Permanence, drawing on the lived experience of adoptive parents who have provided Early Permanence care. The advice shared comes directly from people who have been Early Permanence carers themselves, offering honest, first-hand insight into the realities of the journey. These families reflect openly on the challenges, emotions and rewards of welcoming a child into their homes at such a crucial stage.

VAAs are specialists in finding families for children who need them most and are particularly experienced in supporting Early Permanence arrangements. They work closely with local authorities and regional adoption agencies to ensure that both children and adopters receive the guidance and support they need throughout the process.

Satwinder Sandhu, CEO of CVAA UK, said:

Research consistently tells us that Early Permanence offers children the chance to experience stability and security at the earliest possible point in their lives, which is reflected in the positive life outcomes for these children.

We’re therefore delighted that our VAA members have come together to empower prospective adopters with more information about EP, for anyone considering this path to adoption. This is the fourth in a series of VAA guides featuring the lived experience of adopters and sharing their advice. We know that this first-hand insight is invaluable and we hope it inspires others to take that first step, while providing an honest and realistic portrayal of some of the challenges as well.”

Download a copy of the advice guide at Advice from Adopters: Understanding Adoption via Early Permanence

To find out more about VAAs: What is a VAA?

To find other VAAs visit the CVAA agency finder.

Published: 15th July 2026

The full apology is available to read here and the government’s announcement is here.

The apology acknowledges that what happened to tens of thousands of mothers, children and families – particularly between 1949 and 1976 – should never have happened. It recognises that many women were coerced, bullied or misled into having their children taken away from them, and this practice was embedded in institutions which operated without consent, compassion, dignity or proper safeguards.

The apology follows the publication of reports from the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Education Select Committee, as well as the recent apology issued by the Church of England. Alongside the apology, the government has committed to working with those affected to improve access to records and provide care and support. This includes investment of £4 million over three years to improve access to records, expand services which support family reconnection, improve access to NHS health support, develop peer support, and establish a testimonials project capturing the stories of those affected.

Satwinder Sandhu, Chief Executive of CVAA UK, commented as follows:

This apology marks a significant milestone. Thousands of women who had their children taken from them for adoption have lived with deep pain, loss and trauma for decades, often in silence. The immense suffering experienced by these women, those who were adopted and their family members, including fathers, has been unrecognised for far too long, and we welcome the Government’s acknowledgement of the state’s responsibility today for these injustices and systemic failures which have caused lifelong harm.

CVAA and our members commend the courage of campaigners and survivors whose persistence has helped bring us to this moment, while echoing the sentiment that this apology must serve as a starting point rather than end point. The process of redress which begins now must be comprehensive and firmly shaped by those who were affected by historic adoption practices. Many mothers continue to live with unresolved grief, loss and stigma decades later, and sadly many have already passed away.

At the same time, many adoptees still face challenges in accessing information about their origins, identity and family history. These are not simply matters of the past; they continue to affect lives today as adoption impacts across generations. It is imperative therefore that the government’s package of support matches up with the level and breadth of need, with particular attention to counselling and trauma-informed support services alongside identity-related support for adoptees.

At CVAA we take seriously our responsibility to reflect deeply on this apology and carefully consider, alongside our VAA members, particularly those who may have operated adoption services during 1949 and 1976, how we ensure that we get adoption right for children and families now and in the future. As the majority of children being adopted in 2026 are through the care system, an extremely important aspect of this is the way that the birth families of adopted children are listened to, worked with supported and empowered, as well as how children are supported to understand their personal histories and stay connected with their birth families.

Research and lived experience give us much greater insight into adoption in 2026, so these issues are live conversations across the entire adoption sector and judiciary. However, there is still work to do to ensure that adoption today handles experiences of separation, loss, identity and heritage with the highest standards of care and compassion for every person who is impacted. CVAA will be continuing to support our members to invest time and energy in this work in partnership with colleagues from the statutory sector.

VAAs across the whole of the UK are also wholly committed to supporting all those affected by historic adoption practices and we encourage anyone seeking information, advice or support to contact their adoption agency to better understand the help that may be available to them.

FamilyConnect, delivered by our associate member PAC-UK, offers confidential support, including counselling, record tracing, and help with reunification.

Contact: 0300 1800 205 or https://www.familyconnect.org.uk

CoramBAAF, part of CVAA member Coram Group, manages the Adoption, Search and Reunion website which helps adopted people find out where their records might be held. Later in the year, in partnership with the Archive and Records Association, it will launch a new platform with extended information to give further support to those who are care-experienced or adopted to access their records.

2^nd July 2026

CVAA CEO, Satwinder Sandhu commented:

CVAA is deeply distressed by the circumstances surrounding the death of baby Preston Davey, a horrific case of physical and sexual abuse, and ultimately murder. Our thoughts are foremost with baby Preston’s family and all those who knew him, cared about him and loved him. We welcome the multiple guilty verdicts handed down to the prospective adopters involved in this case, based on irrefutable evidence.

What happened to Preston, a baby taken into care for protection soon after birth and then placed for adoption, is an unimaginable tragedy, and we recognise the impact the case has had on professionals, families and communities connected to adoption.

Adoption is primarily a safeguarding measure to give children who cannot remain with their birth families the opportunity for permanent care, alongside safety and care. Legal systems and processes which are evidence based, and robust, operate in the adoption sector and courts to ensure as far as possible that children are being placed for adoption with people who are not only well prepared and thoroughly assessed, but also safe. No system is flawless though and we know that sadly dangerous and predatory people who seek access to vulnerable children can sometimes navigate even the best processes, checks and expertise. Social workers can seek to minimise risks through the adoption process, but they cannot eradicate them completely.

As is often the case following a tragedy, professional colleagues and those within the immediate family network may have missed warning signs during the months Preston lived with his prospective adopters. This is likely to have a lasting negative impact on them.

An independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review is already underway and when it is published we must ensure that sectors involved in work with adopted children take account of any findings and makes changes where necessary, even though outcome evidence tells us that the vast majority of adopters in the UK do provide safe care for their children and do not abuse them in any way. Our Voluntary Adoption Agency (VAA) members remain committed to learning and strengthening practice.

We are also aware that this case has brought significant attention to the LGBTQ+ adoptive community with concerning levels of online misinformation and instances of homophobic abuse and commentary. This is also deeply troubling and so it feels important to reiterate that someone identifying as LGBTQ+ has no bearing on instances of child abuse. VAAs stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities and reject in the strongest possible way any narratives that attempt to link this safeguarding tragedy to the sexuality of those involved. Individual cases, however serious and distressing, should not be used to make generalised assumptions about entire communities.

A third of all VAA adopters identify as part of LGBTQ+ communities, and this is something CVAA is immensely proud of. These individuals and families make invaluable contributions to children’s lives through adoption, offering safe, loving and stable homes to those who need them. The voluntary adoption sector remains firmly committed to recruiting and supporting diverse adopters from a wide range of communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. This commitment is rooted in the needs of children; many of whom benefit from being placed with families who reflect or respect their identity and experiences. The dedication from VAAs to supporting LGBTQ+ adopters remains strong and unchanged.

VAAs are also committed to maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability, which are subject to regular independent inspections. The assessment, approval and support processes for adoptive parents are thorough and applied consistently to all applicants, regardless of background. More information about the adoption process can be found here.

VAAs provide essential lifelong support to all their adoptive families and are here to listen, support and stand alongside anyone affected by the issues arising from Preston’s tragically short life.

16th June 2026

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.