Adoption charity Chief Executive receives CBE at Buckingham Palace

Norman Goodwin, CEO of leading children’s charity and adoption agency, Adoption Matters, received his CBE during a Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony on Friday 9 October.  Norman was presented with his CBE medal by the Queen in recognition of his outstanding contribution and distinguished service to adoption and the family. Norman was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Judith and his two adult children.

Norman, originally from Carluke and now lives in Chester commented: “This is a great personal honour as well as a great accolade for Adoption Matters. The award is a recognition of the type of work that voluntary adoption agencies can do and I hope that we can continue to raise the profile of adoption and positive outcomes for children.”

“Meeting the Queen was an incredible experience, one my family and I will treasure forever” – the father of two said.

Norman is a leading voluntary sector adoption champion starting his career in 1979, and this year celebrates his 30th year with Adoption Matters. His contributions & achievements include:

• involvement in key national initiatives/working groups on adoption including:
o Conservative Party Review of Adoption working party, the Adoption Stakeholder Group
o Prime Minister’s Expert Working Group on Adoption
o Adoption Implementation Group (laterly the Adoption Leadership Board)
• executive member and former chair of Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies, helping to drive developments and policy
• a former Trustee of Children England
• Formerly Trustee of the British Association Adoption and Fostering (BAAF)
• Contributing to several publications including: Barriers to Adoption? Variations In The Use of Adoption By Local Authorities and No Place Like Home: Improving Adoption Services.

Under Norman’s leadership, Adoption Matters has placed over 1,400 children with adoptive families (the agency has placed over 4,000 since 1947) and provided support & advice to thousands of adults whose lives have been touched by adoption.  Adoption Matters is the ONLY voluntary adoption agency in the North West to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ inspection rating from Ofsted in its last 3 inspections (2008, 2011, 2014) and won BAAF’s National Adoption Award for Best voluntary agency in 2012 and 2014.`

Norman remains ambitious for Adoption Matters and the sector and continues to drive the adoption agenda regionally and nationally.

Adoption Matters is a children’s charity and voluntary adoption agency specialising in adoption and adoption support.  The agency has been finding permanent, loving families for children for nearly 70 years.  Adoption Matters is the ONLY voluntary adoption agency in the North West to be  rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for their last three consecutive inspections in 2008, 2011 & 2014.  Their services cover the areas of the whole of the North West of England, Yorkshire/Humberside, Wales, Midlands, Shropshire & Staffordshire.