Pilot of adoption ‘parties’ scheme is hailed by charities
CHARITIES have welcomed the pilot of adoption “parties” in Scotland – part of a bid to increase the number of adoptions and find children loving homes.
The initiative began in the United States and aims to match young people with potential adopters at activity events. It has already been trialled in England successfully.
While concerns have been raised over putting vulnerable children on display, charities have backed the move, as they believe it will help to place more youngsters with families and improve dismal adoption rates.
Hugh Thornberry, chief executive of Adoption UK, praised the pilot scheme and said that while the proportion of children at adoption “parties” placed was not high, it was because those at the events were often more difficult to find homes.
“We support the ‘parties’ as they have proved in their trial in England that they can enable matches to be made that have not been made through other more traditional methods,” he said.
“While only a quarter of children attending parties are matched with adopters, those involved in the parties are the most difficult to place children who wait the longest to be adopted, for example older children, sibling groups and those from BME ( black and minority ethnic) backgrounds. What is essential though is that children are fully prepared and supported and events need highly skilled planning, delivery and follow through. If adoption parties are to be developed in Scotland they must be done well, learning from the experience in England.”
Fergus Stewart, area manager of TACT (The Adolescent and Children’s Trust) Scotland, the UK’s largest adoption and fostering charity, said: “Adoption activity days are a welcome and exciting development, allowing adopters to mix with children who are needing security and acting and reacting with them.
“With skilled staff the days could do much to demystify the fantasy and see real live thriving children. And the activities themselves sound like fun – laughter and joy is needed in the matching and placement of children.
“It is a great development for children in Scotland and TACT would support it in any way we can.”