An event has been organised at Uckfield Civic Centre, on Saturday 10 November between 2–4pm. Anyone interested in adoption is invited to come and talk to experienced adopters as well as members of the adoption team.
Every year East Sussex places about 40 children, who cannot live with their birth families for a variety of reasons, with adoptive parents. These children range in age from babies to about 8 years old; some children are placed on their own or with a brother or sister.
Councillor Meg Stroude, Lead member for Children and Familes, said: “The County Council considers families from all kinds of backgrounds and walks of life. But common to any successful adoption family is a warm, child-friendly lifestyle and a willingness to learn about and understand their adopted child's needs and life experience. I would strongly encourage people who have been thinking about adoption to come and talk to us. The open day will be an excellent place to start to find out more.”
Anyone interested in adoption is very welcome to attend. The Adoption Team is particularly keen to speak to prospective adopters who would consider taking children over four years old, and/or two or more children who ideally need to be adopted with their brothers and sisters. The team is also keen to hear from adopters who are a mixed race family or are Black or minority ethnic.
Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption, but who is unable to attend the open afternoon, can visit the adoption pages of our website, or the British Association for Adoption and Fostering website. Alternatively you can call 01323 747154 or email adoption@eastsussex.gov.uk.
Notes to editors
Uckfield Civic Centre is located between Tesco and the Uckfield town car parks.
There around 20 prospective adopters waiting to be matched with a child at any one time in East Sussex. Children can be placed with East Sussex adopters who come from the county or from other local authorities, particularly the South East Adoption Consortium. The South East Adoption Consortium consists of six authorities: Brighton, Kent, Medway, Bromley, Bexley and East Sussex, and has good links with other adoption consortia around the country. Around 35 families are needed per year in each agency.
National Adoption Week 2007 is organised by the charity British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF).
Contact the press team
