01/03/04 - Local People needed to Adopt Brothers and Sisters

Today, Cumbria County Council launches a new campaign to encourage more adopters to come forward to care for groups of brothers and sisters.  The move comes as family placement officers struggle to keep families of two and three children together.  There are currently 10 such families in Cumbria, all of them needing a permanent home in a family that can provide them with the stability and security they need and deserve. 

County Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet spokesman for Care and Social Services says,

“The government has set local authorities a target to increase the number of children adopted by at least 40% by 2004/05. To meet this target Cumbria needs to encourage more potential adopters to come forward. 

In Cumbria we are particularly in need of adopters who are able to take more than one child, keeping families together wherever possible.  We would especially like people with experience as adopting brothers and sisters can be great fun, but it can also be demanding.  People who already have strong parenting skills would be at an advantage. Perhaps you’ve raised your own family and now that they’ve “flown the nest” the house feels empty.  Maybe you work with children on a daily basis and would enjoy this kind of opportunity. If this sounds interesting to you, please find out more about adopting from your local Family Placement Team.”

Adoption is a chance to really make a difference, to change a child’s life, but the Family Placement Team are aware that it is a very big decision, so if you would like to find out more details, please contact your local office:

Carlisle (01228) 607078                     Workington (01900) 325356

Kendal (01539) 773312                      Barrow (01229) 894862

Alternatively you can check out their brand new fostering and adoption website on www.cumbriacc.gov.uk/socialservices