160 children waiting for adoptive families in West Yorkshire

The research comes in line with National Adoption Week, an event first created by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF).

The number of children needing adoption in Yorkshire and the Humber has risen by 60% in five years, with children waiting an average of 294 days for a permanent home once plans have been agreed.

Around 160 children are waiting for adoptive families in West Yorkshire, according to One Adoption West Yorkshire. 

A report by Adoption England and Coram warns if registrations continue to decline, there may be enough approved adoptive families for just 13% of children needing a home in England by 2030.

However, if registrations return to levels seen a few years ago, 1,000 children could find homes by the end of the decade. 

The figures have been published as National Adoption Week, which runs from 19 to 25 October, aims to encourage more people to consider adopting, including those who may believe they are not in a position to do so.

Michelle Rawlings, head of One Adoption West Yorkshire, said: ‘National Adoption Week is an opportunity to shine a light on the children across West Yorkshire who are waiting for the security and stability of a permanent family.

‘With around 160 children currently waiting for adoption in our region, many people do not realise that they could provide the loving home a child needs.’

‘This year’s Every Day is Everything campaign focuses on the ordinary moments that make family life special, whether that’s reading a bedtime story, sharing a meal together or simply being there at the end of the school day,’ Rawlings added. ‘For children who have experienced uncertainty, those everyday moments can mean everything. We’d encourage anyone who has ever thought about adoption to get in touch and find out more.’

Sarah Johal MBE, national adoption strategic lead at Adoption England, said: ‘Social workers are unable to find families for all the children who need adoption, but we can change this trajectory. The families that these children need are out there. They may even be thinking about adoption already but have not come forward yet.’

Image: Guillaume de Germain/UnSplash 

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