Series of adoption events to hit Tyneside in push to find parents

A regional push to find adoptive parents across Tyneside is being launched.

Local adoption agency Adopt North East will host its first in-person recruitment events in two years in a bid to ecourage Geordie families to adopt.

The agency currently has 48 children looking for a family and around half of those youngsters have a brother or sister also waiting to be adopted.

Adoption North East strives to keep children together when finding new families and there's a special focus on families that may be able to offer this.

Events across the region will take place in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyeside.

Events running over the coming months include:

• South Tyneside – Tuesday 2 August. Location: 25-27 The Market Place NE33 1JF. Parking is free for up to three hours at 45 Market Place, NE33 1DX.
• Gateshead – Monday 5 September. Location: Bewick Room, Gateshead Civic Centre, Regent Street, NE8 1HH
• Newcastle – Monday 17 October. Location: Balliol Pembroke Wing, Chester’s Avenue, Longbenton, NE12 8QP. Parking is available on site, and it is accessible via Metro.
• North Tyneside – Wednesday 19 October. Location: Riverside Children’s Centre, Minton Lane, North Shields, NE29 6DQ. Parking is available on site.

Each event will include a presentation about the adoption process, a speech by a Family Finding Social Worker on referral and words from a Post Adoption Support Worker about the support on offer after children have been placed with a family.

An adoptive parent will also be there to share their experience.

Nik Flavell, Senior Manager for Adopt North East, said: “We are all delighted to relaunch our in-person recruitment events across the North East to welcome possible adoptive parents and explain more about the impact they can have on a child’s life.

“We have children of all ages and backgrounds currently waiting for adoption including children between two and four and some of school age, and we know that adoption will be life-changing for everyone involved.

“I’d encourage anyone who has considered adoption, or those who simply want to know more about what it may involve, to come along to one of our events and speak to our brilliant teams to find out more.”