Adoption UK is raising funds to support adopters.

Christmas can be incredibly fraught for adoptive families. They are parenting some of society’s most vulnerable children; almost three quarters of children adopted today will have suffered abuse or neglect in their birth families. Adoption doesn’t wipe the slate clean. The trauma and loss many of these children have experienced, causes deep-set emotional and behavioural difficulties. For their adoptive parents, Christmas may be spent coping with their child’s trauma, and many families need more help than we can currently give them.

There are 4,000 children adopted in the UK every year. Cuts to child services mean that Adoption UK is needed more than ever. For every three calls to the helpline, two more get our answerphone because we just can't meet the increasing demand. Your donation will make a huge difference to a family who is at breaking point. Any donations gratefully received will go directly towards our advice and support services, including our helplines and local support groups and online forums.

£100 (Bauble) enables us to answer 20 Helpline calls from families in crisis.
£200 (Bell) ensures our vital online forums stay open 24/7 for one week.
£500 (Candy Cane) lets us provide ten new community volunteers with essential start-up packs,
£1,000 (Star) helps us run a local community event such as a family day or local parenting course.

“Thanks to Adoption UK, last year our youngest son ate Christmas lunch for the first time in eight years. In previous years he has hidden under his bed and then eaten lunch on his own when everyone had finished” Charlotte