Is it safe to feature children's profiles online? Expand We take the security and privacy of the children featured on Children Who Wait online very seriously. Please read our Privacy page. Access to 'Children Who Wait' online is restricted to full Adoption UK members (who subscribe to 'Children Who Wait') and agencies that are members of Adoption UK. There is an annual subscription fee to be a member of Adoption UK. Access is via a secure login control screen, which asks for a username and password. In visiting Children Who Wait online, users agree to abide by our conditions of use. This includes an undertaking not to misuse information, which should only be used by a named/authorised person in a household who is over 21 years of age, and the outcome if this is not adhered to. These run in conjunction with Adoption UK's terms and conditions of use. All our staff have been the subject of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. These checks are carried out on a regular basis, every three years, during the time an employee remains working for the charity. Strict editorial guidelines protect the identity and location of all featured children. These include only using a child's first name, editing out information and/or elements of images which may give clear indications of where a child lives, frequently visits or attends school. Audio and video clips wherever possible will only feature the child. Any other adults or children shown in a video will only be allowed providing suitable permissions have been obtained. Access to more information about any of the children who are featured is via direct email/telephone contact with the relevant adoption agency only. Children Who Wait does not act as an intermediary and enquiries are not filtered or progressed by the Children Who Wait team. The website is hosted on secure servers within the EU.
I have a query about becoming an adoptive parent – who should I contact? Expand Adoption UK provides information and guidance at all stages of the adoption process. We believe that peer support and the exchange of knowledge and experiences between adoptive parents is a crucial part of adoption support. Adoption UK's helpline staff are trained to offer advice and give information. If you would like to speak to one of our helpline advisors please call 0300 666 0006 (Options to select which nation Helpline you would like to talk to will be be offered once the above number has been called). England - (excluding Bank Holidays) Mon - Fri: 10.00 – 14.30 Wales - Mon – Wed: 10.00 – 14.30, Thurs – Fri: 10.00 – 14.30 Scotland - General Helpline: Mon – Fri: 10.00 – 14.30, FASD Hub Scotland: Tues – Thurs: 10.00 – 14.30 Northern Ireland - Mon – Fri: 9.00 – 17.00 Please note, we record all of the calls to our Helpline teams. Should you wish for your call to remain anonymous, please let the advisor know at the start of your call. Calls will be charged at standard network rates. Alternatively, you can contact our Helpline Advisors at [email protected]
I think that one of the children featured online could be a suitable match – what should I do? Expand If you think you would be a suitable match for a child or children featured on Children Who Wait online, you can send an email direct to the team using the 'Request More information' button on the right-hand side of the relevant profile. Please be sure to give some details about yourself to assist the family finder in assessing suitable prospective adoptive parents. Bear in mind that the social worker could receive a number of enquiries relating to a particular child or sibling group - so ensure that you provide a 'snapshot' of your family which allows them to consider how this may work for the child. By including your social worker's contact details in the enquiry, the child's agency will be able to make contact to discuss your circumstances in more detail. Alternatively, you can request contact details for the agency/social worker for any of the children featured by contacting the Children Who Wait Family Finding Team and quoting the child's reference number (or name and date of birth) as printed within their profile in Children Who Wait magazine.
Joel Saddler Chief Operating Officer Expand As Chief Operating Officer Joel is responsible for the day to day operational management of the charity in addition to income generation, including fundraising and business development. Joel has over 35 years’ experience in the public sector and third sector having careers in the NHS, Ofsted Early Years, a national advocacy charity and a private sector childcare business. Contact [email protected]
Dr. Julie Elliott Clinical Director, Adoption UK Expand As Clinical Director Julie is responsible for the clinical and therapeutic delivery across Adoption UK and ensures that we have robust clinical governance around the therapeutic services we offer. She manages the Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) which deliver a range of therapeutic programmes. The team includes qualified and experienced psychologists and therapists, and experts by experience who deliver on the peer support components within PATH. Julie is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience of working within Children and Family services across the NHS, Social Care, Education and the Independent/Charity sectors. Following an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Moral Philosophy and Applied Ethics, she completed a PhD in Psychology, focussing on the effects of trauma in childhood. She then went on to complete her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Julie has previously managed Psychology and Psychological Therapy services within the NHS.
Jane White Director for Quality Assurance and Impact Expand As the Registered Manager for England and Wales Jane is responsible for ensuring the service is compliant with legislative and regulatory requirements. Jane is our Director for Wales, Quality and Impact for Adoption UK, she is responsible for ensuring an effective system of quality assurance and evaluation operates within Adoption UK’s support services. This will support the service to evidence good practice, and continuous improvement. Jane is also the lead for Safeguarding for England and Wales . She has 29 years of safeguarding experience, primarily within Local Authority Children’s Social Care. She is experienced in partnership working and is passionate about service user participation and involvement in service development and improvements. Jane’s experience spans across all areas of children’s social care and includes a number of years of strategic leadership of permanence services such as Children in Care, Care Experienced, Adoption, and Fostering services. Jane’s aim is to support the teams to deliver high quality services, demonstrate the impact of the services provided and to showcase best practice within Adoption UK. Contact Jane [email protected]
EJ Havlin Director, Northern Ireland Expand As the director of our service in N.Ireland, EJ is responsible for service delivery and development across N.Ireland. EJ manages a team of skilled and experienced staff members who have personal and professional experience allowing them to offer information, advice and support to adoptive families in N.Ireland. With a degree in Social Sciences plus a range of community development and adult education & training qualifications, EJ comes from a voluntary sector professional background. Previous roles have involved widening participation & social mobility in higher education at Queens University Belfast, capacity building initiatives in Belfast community projects & developing empowerment programmes for older people across N.Ireland. EJ is committed to enabling the voices of adoption to be raised. EJ is an adopter and was previously a volunteer with Adoption UK. Contact EJ [email protected]
Fiona Aitken Director, Scotland and UK Safeguarding Lead Expand As the director of our services in Scotland, Fiona is responsible for service delivery and development across Scotland. Fiona manages a team of skilled and experienced staff members who have personal and professional experience allowing them to offer information, advice and support to adoptive, kinship and other care experienced families in Scotland, including those impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. With a degree in Sociology and a qualification in Speech and Language therapy, Fiona comes from a child focussed professional background and is also a short breaks specialist disability foster carer. Previous roles involved developing and coordinating family support services for children and families affected by disabilities, and working in a residential respite environment. She has a further qualification in Autism, and a qualification in Child Welfare and Protection. Fiona leads on our UK wide safeguarding work, young people’s support services and our work on kinship care and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Contact Fiona [email protected]
John Buultjens Expand Adoptee, author and BMX superstar John Buultjens is the latest addition to our team of ambassadors. John grew up in Glasgow where he experienced violence at the hands of his birth father and was placed in care aged seven. He suffered burns after being thrown in a fire and was knocked out by his father during one attack. After being placed in care on Christmas Eve, John was fostered at the age of ten and his foster parents went on to adopt him. After being adopted, John became a professional BMX rider and he is now the global brand manager for Haro BMX Bikes in 80 countries around the world. John wrote an account of his amazing yet turbulent life in his book, Ride. In 2018, he will be starring in a film of the same name produced by ESX Entertainment. In this big budget production – filmed in California – John plays his abusive father. When asked about his new role, John said: “I’m honoured to have been asked to be an ambassador for Adoption UK and I’m so proud to be working with this amazing organisation. I know what a fantastic job adoptive parents do for their children and I owe everything to my adoptive parents – they are my role models. It means everything to me that I can make them so proud today.”
Shona White Expand The third celebrity to become an ambassador for Adoption UK is the actress and singer Shona White. Shona, who is an adoptee, has had starring roles in West End shows, including Chess, Wicked, Les Miserables, Shout, Mamma Mia and Rocky Horror. Shona said: "I was very flattered to be asked to become an ambassador for the charity. As an adoptee it is a subject very close to my heart so if I can help Adoption UK to keep offering the support that the charity provides to families, then I will be honoured to do so." My parents are wonderful and are my 'real parents' full stop! Shona continued: "I am very lucky as I've always known I was adopted because Mum and Dad told me from a very young age. My parents are wonderful and are my 'real parents' full stop! It is something I am proud of and what an incredible thing for them to have done. They have been a constant support to me no matter what, which is just what all parents do for their kids right? I always felt special and chosen," she added. It is vitally important for charities like Adoption UK to have high-profile ambassadors as they help us to attract finances, offer moral support to our campaigns and help to influence and educate the wider-world about the challenges facing today's adoptive families.
Nicky Campbell OBE Expand Broadcaster and adoptee Nicky Campbell OBE has also agreed to become an Adoption UK ambassador. Nicky, co host of ITV’s Long Lost Family, helped Adoption UK to gain high-profile media coverage after agreeing to be interviewed by various media, including BBC Scotland and The Sunday Times, on the opening day of Scotland’s first ever adoption week in November 2016. Nicky, who also presents BBC Radio 5 Live’s breakfast show, said: “Adoption has changed dramatically since I was adopted as a baby but I know how it can be a hugely transformative experience for both children and their families. I’m incredibly grateful to my adoptive parents who selflessly took me in as their own and provided a loving and stable family home. Nicky is also proud to support the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Nicky sees his two ‘causes’ - adoption and conservation - as inextricably linked, because they are both about a better future and a better world. Click here to watch a film that Nicky helped to produce for the elephant orphanage.
Tessa Sanderson CBE Expand Olympic gold medallist and adoptive parent, Tessa Sanderson CBE was the first high profile name to agree to become an ambassador for Adoption UK. Tessa won gold in the women’s javelin at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (see video below) and became a mother at the age of 58 when she and her husband, fellow Olympian, Densign White adopted twins. Tessa and Densign were interviewed in Hello magazine and a number of national newspapers in 2016 about their decision to adopt their twins later in life. Watch Tessa win the javelin gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
Jamie Baulch Expand In 2017, Olympian, World Champion and adoptee, Jamie Baulch agreed to fly the flag for Adoption UK. The former British sprint athlete won the 400 metres gold medal at the 1999 World Indoor Championships – and as a member of British 4 x 400 metres relay teams, won a gold medal at the 1997 World Championships, and silver at the 1996 Olympic Games. Jamie was born in Nottingham, but raised by his adoptive parents in Risca, near Newport, Wales. In 2016 Jamie made a TV documentary for the BBC Being Jamie Baulch: The Search for My Birth Dad, in which he goes in search of his biological father, who he believes to be Jamaican, and the source of his speed. In a previous Bafta Cymru-winning BBC documentary Jamie Baulch: Looking For My Birth Mum (clip below), Jamie went on an emotional journey looking for his birth mother. In the end he found her, met with her for the first time and showed her his athletics medals. Jamie said: “I’m glad I was adopted as it gave me a second chance in life. It feels like I was chosen. Without the love and guidance of my adoptive parents I may not have had the opportunity to become an athlete and consequently a World Champion and Olympic medallist.” Jamie Baulch - 5min Version from Andrew Wilson on Vimeo.
Factsheet - Adoption Pay & Leave Expand This Factsheet provides a summary of the complex law governing adoption pay and leave. It covers the law in relation to employees who have had a child placed with them for adoption by an agency, or adopted from overseas. It also provides contacts for further information and support. Please note: the copyright on Adoption UK's factsheets remains with Adoption UK. You may download and print off factsheets but copying and/or distributing them without Adoption UK's prior permission is not allowed. Factsheet Pay and Leave 2021 - Download:
Teaching Staff Training (including inset): Supporting children with histories of trauma and loss. Life in the Classroom training. Expand Life in the Classroom Workshop description Adoption UK’s Life in the Classroom training is suitable for a wide range of education professionals, including teaching staff, ITT providers, teaching assistants, SENCos and other professionals working with children in education. Our training helps staff to understand trauma, loss and attachment, and provides practical evidence-informed strategies to support children. This half day training looks at the causes of trauma and the subsequent impact of developmental trauma on learning. It examines attachment styles and the Dan Hughes model of PACE – which emphasises the benefits of a Playful, Accepting, Curious and Empathetic approach. The training also explores Executive Functioning and how early trauma can impact on this. Who should attend? This learning opportunity has been designed to support education practitioners, Teachers, TA’s and SENCO’s working with children who are struggling with life in the classroom. Course Objectives Raise awareness of how trauma and attachment difficulties can impact on education Help support the adopted or looked after child in the classroom Written and delivered by AdoptersLife in the Classroom is delivered by one of our professional Adoption UK Trainers. All our trainers are also adopters and offer their own unique perspective on parenting hurt children. Where With our virtual delivery programme, we are able to provide virtual workshops and training on a variety of platforms, at a time that suits your organisation. Contact For further information or to book, please contact the Training Team at [email protected] What they said about our courses: Adoption UK Charity The training from Adoption UK was perfect for our school staff. The sessions explained how early trauma, loss and attachment difficulties can affect brain development and gave us all a valuable insight into how to adapt our practices to be more trauma aware. The content of the sessions applied to so many children, not just those in care or adopted.Highly recommended!Primary School AHT (Inclusion) Without reservation, I fully endorse Adoption UK’s parent support programme…it will continue to provide adopters with excellent training and support for years to come.Dr Dan Hughes PhD, Clinical Psychologist Before the course there seemed to be no hope for our family, now we have grounds for real optimism.Adopter I was delighted with the training. I found the content incredibly useful and interesting, and I left feeling inspired and motivated. I have given the content a lot of thought since yesterday and have started to change my way of thinking already.Inclusion Leader of an Essex Primary School
Parenting Our Teens Therapeutic support for parents of adopted teenagers Expand What is Parenting our Teens?Parenting our Teens is a unique four-day training programme for parents of adopted teenagers. Parenting our Teens is peer-led and will help parents and carers of teenagers gain an understanding of their teenagers needs, learn strategies to help their teenager and themselves, and get some valuable peer support. It is research-based and was developed in response to requests from adoption support teams who have identified a need for a teen-focus programme for their local adoptive parents. Parenting our Teens is broadly based on our well-known Parenting our Children programme and includes new elements that specifically address the issues faced by parents with teens who have experienced trauma in their early life. If you would like to know more about this training, please contact the Training Team at [email protected]
Parenting our Children: Six steps to empowered parenting Do you want to improve your parenting skills and help build a more secure placement? Expand Parenting our Children is Adoption UK’s cutting edge, therapeutic parenting programme. It can be run locally in partnership with a local authority or voluntary agency. It has been designed to equip parents with knowledge and understanding of developmental trauma and give them the tools they need to parent children who have had experienced this, along with attachment issues. Parenting Our Children has been fully revised and brought up to date in conjunction with Family Futures and includes the latest neuroscience and current parenting techniques. Parenting our Children - will help parents and carers over the long term to: Understand your children's trauma and subsequent behaviour. Understand the therapeutic approach at the heart of your parenting. Understand that your parenting attitude is a vital part of caring for your children. Be better informed to engage with practitioners to work with your children. Quote from an attendee: I have learnt about my child and have greater empathy to his situation and management of same. I intend to apply my learning into everyday life, share with family members and school. Parenting our Children can be funded by the Adoption Support Fund Following an assessment, local authorities in England can use the Adoption Support Fund to fund attendance on a Parenting our Children course. Find out more about the Adoption Support Fund here. To find out more, please contact the Training Team at [email protected]