Nearly two thirds of children awaiting adoption in the North West are in sibling groups

Nearly two thirds (64%) of the children in the North West waiting for adoptive families are brothers and sisters in groups of 2 or more according to new information published today to mark National Adoption Week (16-22^nd October).  Figures from national adoption information service, First4Adoption, based on the latest government information*, show that sibling groups wait longer than single children to be placed with a “forever family”. 

Adoption Matters Chief Executive, Norman Goodwin CBE commented: “Whilst the majority of adopters across the country  do tend to adopt one child, at Adoption Matters 49% of the children we placed last year were part of a sibling group and over 50% the year before.  We have the experience of placing siblings and offering ongoing support to our families to enable a successful adoption”.

The new research, by Adoption Match and based on data from the Adoption Register for England also reveals that:

• 52% of sibling groups awaiting adoption in the North West are children aged over 4
• 59% of these groups awaiting adoption are made up of boys
• 11% of the siblings groups awaiting adoption are Black and Minority Ethnic children

Norman Goodwin adds, “We’re asking anyone who may be considering adoption to think about whether they could parent siblings. There’s no denying that having more than one child comes with real challenges but it also has advantages and brings great rewards”.

Mike Delap and his wife Rebecca (pictured right) recently adopted siblings, aged 3 and 4, through Adoption Matters and wanted to share their story for National Adoption Week 2017. 

What makes Mike’s story quite unique is that Mike was also adopted through the agency.  Moira and John Delap from Stockport, Manchester, adopted Mike through Adoption Matters in 1984 when he was a young baby. They went on to have three birth children, Jonathan, Hannah and Nick to became a family of 6!

Mike said: “My parents and I have always been very open about my adoption.  They helped me find the great life and upbringing that I have enjoyed and now my wife and I are delighted to have also adopted our beautiful children through the same agency I was adopted through, which is pretty amazing!”.

I chose to adopt siblings because I guess we always imagined that we would have a family of four – that’s how my wife and I imagined our life together.  Ever since we started the adoption process our preference was for siblings, that didn’t change at any stage.

The best bit is absolutely without doubt the strong bond that they share with each other. Through everything they’ve ever gone through they’ve always had each other – that’s the one constant from day one and it’s lovely to see. It’s almost telepathic the understanding our boy and girl have between them at times and the big brother is very protective over his little sister… the way it should be.

Two of them coming at you at once can feel like the culture shock to the end them all when you’re new to parenting like we are. It’s a shock to the system but if you weigh up the rewards and counter them with the difficulties it’s not even a contest. We’ve been lucky to be blessed a lot in our lives but this beats them all hand down.

Plus they’ve both got each other which is worth its weight in gold”.

To find out more about adoption and the different options available, contact Adoption Matters on Freephone: 0300 123 1066 or download a free, no obligation information pack here.

*Based on information from Adoption Match which operates the Adoption Register for England on behalf of the Department for Education http://www.adoptionmatch.org.uk/