Home Local News Fantastic response to forever home adoption appeal

Fantastic response to forever home adoption appeal

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Lancashire County Council is thanking the public and the media for the support received to a recent appeal asking people to come forward to adopt three sisters.

During National Adoption Week in October, a special request was made to find a forever family for three sisters, Sophie aged five, Olivia aged two and one-year-old Poppy.

Keeping the sisters together is important as they have a very close sibling bond and it would not be in their best interests to split them up in order to find permanent homes for them.

Being able to keep the ties that they have already developed with each other will help them to thrive in the future.

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, said: “The response to our appeal for a forever home for sisters Sophie, Olivia and Poppy has been absolutely amazing.

“I know their story has touched so many hearts and we are following up all the enquiries we have received. We are very grateful to the media who shared our message.

“I’d particularly like to thank everyone who has come forward and expressed an interest in adopting the girls, as well as the many others who wanted to know more about how they can provide a loving and stable home to our other youngsters who are looking for a permanent home.”

The appeal was so successful that many more enquiries were received to the appeal, 117 in October 2018, compared with 72 enquiries in October 2017.

Sibling groups are among the children who wait longest to be adopted, as there are not enough people coming forward who are able to give them a safe, permanent and loving family.

Among the 89 Lancashire children who are currently ready to be adopted, there are 15 two-sibling groups and three three-sibling groups.

Consideration is given to anyone who wishes to adopt, regardless of their age, marital status, sexuality or gender. There are no strict rules about whether people should have jobs, their own homes or have their own children.

The county council is keen to hear from a broad range of prospective adopters, including single people and couples, same-sex and heterosexual, from all religious backgrounds or none.

It is also happy to consider people who have already adopted, already have a family, or are looking into adoption because they are unable to have children of their own.

The only legal requirements are that adopters must be over 21 and live within Lancashire or nearby.

Adoptive parents are needed for children from young babies up to eight years of age, and particularly for the following groups:

• Children aged over four, either gender
• Children with special needs, disabilities or unpredictable medical issues
• Boys of all ages
• Mixed-heritage children of all ages

If you would like to find out more about adoption, contact the county council by calling the friendly adoption team on 0300 123 6723, visit the website at www.lancashire.gov.uk/adoption and fill in the enquiry form, or come along to an information evening. More details are available on the website.

People can help spread the word about adopting with Lancashire County Council on their online channels. This can be done by following the county council on Twitter @LancashireCC and searching for #LancsAdoption for messages to retweet, and liking the county council on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lancashirecc and sharing the posts about adoption.

By doing this people can help to spread the word to their friends and family, their colleagues and the organisations they work with.

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