Regional services merge to pioneer new approach for adoption services

It will for the first time bring together all adoption agencies across Yorkshire and the Humber under one umbrella.

A “pop-up” living room roadshow at Meadowhall in Sheffield will mark the launch today as part of National Adoption Week.

There will be a new dedicated freephone helpline line, 0300 222 5934, and a website where prospective adopters can access information they will need about adoption in the region. Organisers said it was the first time such a unified approach has been offered to anybody considering adoption.

Previously, anybody interested in adoption would have had to contact several different local authorities to obtain the information needed to progress.

Nic Haughton, manager of the Yorkshire and Humber Adoption Consortium, which is leading the project, said: “The aim of this new initiative is really to ensure we are offering a unified approach to adoption across the region.

“Ultimately, we want all the early stages of becoming an adopter to become much more integrated.

“We want to remove obstacles which may currently exist that could be putting a potential adopter off taking that first step, and that includes making the process as easy and straightforward as possible.”

The Being Family programme also sets out to dispel some of the myths and perceived barriers attached to the adoption process, highlighting the positive experience it can bring both for the children and their adoptive families.

Mr Haughton added: “Having local authorities and independent voluntary adoption agencies from across the region come together for the first time in this way is an important milestone in helping us to highlight the importance of adoption across Yorkshire and the Humber.”