A new campaign, #YouCanAdopt, is being launched in Cornwall to dispel the myths of adoption and highlight the number of children looking for a new family.

Regional Adoption Agency Cornwall Council and independent adoption charity Families for Children have joined organisations across the country to launch the nationwide recruitment campaign.

Latest figures suggest that there are 22 children across Cornwall waiting for adoptive families, which include four sibling groups of two or more children.

Ruth Marriott, CEO at Families for Children said: “There are still many myths surrounding adoption specifically around who can adopt, age and even accommodation worries.

"We are behind the campaign in helping to answer some of these questions that make people assume they can’t adopt. We want to raise awareness of the needs of harder to place children who wait the longest for their families. We are looking for people who have the motivation, commitment and love to be a great parent.”

Cllr Sally Hawken, Cabinet Member for Children & Wellbeing, Cornwall Council said: “We know that lots of people think about adopting but wonder whether they might be eligible and so don’t take that all-important first step.

“Hopefully this new campaign will convince them to come and talk to us and dispel those myths. There are children locally and nationally from all backgrounds waiting for forever homes and that’s why we need people from all walks of life to come forward and help us to give them the love and care that every child needs to thrive, whatever their background.”

Earlier this year, a new report revealed that 39 per cent of adults in the south west have considered adoption or would consider adoption in the future. But, despite this, 71 per cent of adults do not feel they know much about the adoption process. This lack of knowledge may contribute to too many people not taking the important first step.

With 43 per cent of people in the south west admitting they do not know if they are eligible to adopt and 32 per cent thinking they wouldn’t be able to, the new campaign aims to increase the number of people taking the first steps towards adopting a child.

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In the UK there are almost 3,000 children that are in need of an adoptive family and the number of adoptions in England has fallen by a third in four years.

In response, the new #YouCanAdopt campaign will bust myths around who is eligible to adopt and explore what the adoption process involves. It will also highlight, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, that there are still children out there who are looking for their new family.

Some of the biggest misconceptions around eligibility are that single people, older people, and those who are LGBTQ+ are not allowed to adopt, which is not the case.

The #YouCanAdopt campaign also aims to target potential parents from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as these children traditionally wait longer to be matched with a new adoptive family. The campaign aims to encourage potential adoptive parents to also consider adopting older children, sibling groups and those with complex health needs or a disability.

To help shine a light on the diverse range of families who can adopt, a new emotive film has been released featuring singer Sinitta and TV vocal coaches Carrie and David Grant alongside other families who are joining in, encouraging others to consider adoption.

In the film, the adoptive families recite a poem written by comedienne, writer and adoptee Joy Carter, which brings to life the stories of each of the families: the highs, lows and realities of adoption.

The film also dispels some key misconceptions about adoption. It is being released online and across social media during the campaign. A podcast series is also being released, featuring famous voices such as Anna Richardson, Sinitta, Harry Derbidge and Annie Price, who talk to families about the adoption process and the journey they took to adopt their children.

All adoption agencies hold information events across the south west to inform and discuss the process of becoming an adopter, the services they provide and the vulnerable children who are currently waiting.

If you’re interested in finding out more, get in touch with your local agency: Cornwall Council: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/adoption or Families for Children: https://familiesforchildren.org.uk.