If you are thinking about becoming a parent through adoption, or would like to know more about adoption, PACT (Parents and Children Together) is here to help! PACT is an adoption charity and family support provider helping hundreds of people each year. PACT helps to grow families through our adoption services (rated as outstanding by Ofsted) and provides lifelong adoption support. Last year, PACT found secure and loving homes for 78 children.
PACT is actively seeking enquiries from people living in and around Swindon who would consider becoming parents for the children who wait the longest for adoption. Brothers and sisters who need to stay together, children aged 3 and over, children with additional needs and children from a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures and religions wait the longest for adoptive families through no fault of their own.
PACT’s Adopter Diversity Recruitment Officer said, “Adoption is so rewarding. Most people have the qualities to be a great parent. People who want to adopt already have the skills and attributes they need to change the course of these children’s lives. Our families find it reassuring that PACT’s lifelong support is there if they need it.” You can adopt if;
• If you are single, married or in a long term ‘live in’ relationship
• If you own your own home or rent
• If you have a disability or are managing health conditions
• If you have children, or if you have none—some people adopt multiple times
• If you are over 45
Currently PACT is particularly keen to hear from anyone open to considering adopting siblings.
Andrew and Simon*, adopted a brother and sister aged 4 and 5 through PACT. Andrew said, “We are a male couple and had lots of conversations about having children. We wanted to give a forever home to children who had a rough start to life.”
The couple said that they felt really comfortable with PACT and went on to find out more about adoption.
Talking about the adoption process Andrew said, “We had our social worker holding our hands throughout, that was invaluable.” Andrew said, ”our children have got such a lovely connection between them. You can see a really strong relationship between them.”
Mel* and her husband adopted 3 brothers and sisters. Mel said, “My husband is one of 3 and I’m one of 2. We didn’t want to go through the process multiple times but knew that we wanted multiple children. For us, siblings were really an easy decision to come to.”
Speaking about the adoption process Mel said, ‘we had a few hiccoughs along the way, but ultimately when our children were placed with us it all paled in insignificance.”
To anyone considering adopting brothers and sisters, Andrew said, ‘Go for it. You’ll have an instant family with children that have lovely bond with each other.”
Mel said, ‘There are so may positives, the children are happy together, so they’ll be happy with you and will flourish.”
To find out more about adopting with PACT please download our Guide to Adoption from our website https://www.pactcharity.org/ and call us on 0300 456 4800. Lines are open 10am-5pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am-8pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 10am-1pm on Saturday.
*names changed to protect identity.
