New CVAA report shows the VAA contribution to adoption, and a system under pressure

Our new data report, published today during National Adoption Week 2026, sets out what Voluntary Adoption Agencies (VAAs) contribute to adoption across the UK. It also shows the pressures on the whole system: fewer adopters, longer waits for children and cuts to adoption support.

VAAs make up around a fifth of the UK adoption sector. The report, based on data from 15 member agencies, shows that:

• VAAs invest in adoption support on top of the Interagency Fee and government funding. They provided over 56,000 hours of support to more than 13,000 people.
• Two thirds of the children VAAs placed were siblings, older children or children from Global Majority communities.

The report also shows the pressures on the whole system. VAA enquiries from potential adopters fell by 8%, children are waiting too long for a family, and delays and cuts to adoption support have forced some agencies to fundraise, draw on reserves or make redundancies. Average VAA income fell by 3.0% in 2025/26.

Andrew Webb, Chair of CVAA UK, said:

“Adoption delivers some of the best outcomes we see anywhere in the care system. But it cannot sustain itself. It needs funding, recognition and active support from governments, the wider care sector, and all of us working within it.”

VAAs cannot close the gap between children waiting and families available on their own. We want to work with government, local authorities and partners across the sector to build a system that meets the needs of every child waiting for a family.

Download the full CVAA Data report here: Supporting Children and Families Through Adoption: The VAA Contribution CVAA Data Report 2025-26

Download the infographic here: CVAA Data Report Infographic