Minister for Children and Families, Edward Timpson, visits adoption information service to launch online resources

On Tuesday 24 February, the Minister for Children and Families, Edward Timpson, visited national adoption information service First4Adoption.  As well as meeting the team who answer telephone enquiries, the Minister also met a group of young adopted people who have created a new area of First4Adoption’s website aimed at people thinking about adoption.

The young people are ambassadors of The Adoptables initiative developed by children’s charity Coram.  A peer network, The Adoptables is helping young people to express their experiences as adopted children at home, in school and in social care.

Since its launch in 2013, First4Adoption has helped over 300,000 people start their adoption journey.  The quality of its website and online information recently won the service the accolade Digital Champion of the Year awarded by the British Association of Adoption and Fostering during National Adoption Week.

Gemma Gordon-Johnson from First4Adoption said; “As an award winning provider of information to people thinking about adopting, it made total sense for First4Adoption to ask the young participants of The Adoptables to produce some information for our website.  Their “Top Ten Tips” for prospective adopters give the young people’s perspective on a range of issues including the value of adoption and how best to tell a child that she or he is adopted.”

Timpson, Minister for Children and Families, who grew up with two adopted brothers said:  “Every child deserves a stable, loving home and there remain lots of children out there who need families. There’s no one better to provide valuable nuggets of information and tips for prospective adoptive parents than children who’ve been adopted themselves. I’d urge anyone who’s considering adoption to contact First4Adoption and take their first step towards the challenge – and joy – of being an adoptive parent.”

There will be an opportunity for young adoptees in London aged 13-25 to join the Adoptables network by attending a workshop being held on Saturday 11th April 2015 at Coram’s Campus in Bloomsbury.  Additional regional workshops will be announced shortly. For timings, to register or to find out more please contact Erina.Naluwaga@coram.org.uk, tel 07984289062.

Ends

Photo captions:

Minister for Children and Families, Edward Timpson with Coram CEO, Carol Homden (middle), and Customer Services Manager at First4Adoption, Gemma Gordon-Johnson (front right).

Young adopted people from The Adoptables project with the Minister, from left, Kelsey, Gemma, Minister for Children and Families, Edward Timpson, Storm, and The Adoptables programme manager, Erina Naluwaga. 

Young adopted people from The Adoptables project with the Minister, from left, Kelsey, Minister for Children and Families, Edward Timpson, Gemma and Storm.

Media contact:

Kate Summerside. Coram Group Head of Communications/ Rachel Jasper. Communications Manager

DD: 020 7520 0346  Mob: 07824 312418 / 07931 459803

Notes to editors:

1: About First4Adoption

First4Adoption is the national adoption information service for anyone interested in adopting a child in England. Callers to the service on 0300 222 0022 can speak to trained advisors to get information about adopting a child - from their suitability to apply to become an adoptive parent to how to begin the adoption process. The information line is open from 10am-6pm, Monday-Friday or visit www.first4adoption.org.uk

2: About Coram

Coram, the UK’s oldest children’s charity and outstanding adoption agency has been finding new ways to help children for 275 years.  In 2015, we will touch the lives of a million children in the UK. Coram equips young people with the skills they need to make healthy life choices; supports their voice if they are in the care system and not being heard; and gives them the confidence they need to make their way in the world.    www.coram.or.uk

Twitter @Coram

3: About the Adoptables

Funded by The Queen’s Trust, The Adoptables produces tool kits to help teachers and social workers improve how they interact with adopted young people.  The Adoptables also enables young people to act as ambassadors for adoption and for the views and needs of other adopted children.  To find out more visit www.coram.org.uk/adoptables

Plus First4Adoption weblink to follow

4: About The Queen’s Trust

The Queen’s Trust was established in 1977 to support causes that help young people help others. Since then the Trust has awarded over £80m to programmes that give young people the chance to do this, in ways that benefit society in the long term.  For further information about The Queen's Trust, please visit www.queenstrust.org.uk

Kate Summerside
Interim Group Head of Communications

dd: 020 7520 0346

mob: 07824 312418