Kinship Care, Fostering and Adoption
Kinship care is when a child lives full-time or most of the time with a relative or friend who isn’t their parent, usually because their parents aren’t able to care for them.
Fostering offers children a safe and caring family, usually geographically close to their home, while they are unable to live with their own, and provides an opportunity for other professionals to work with the birth family to help resolve their issues.
Adoption is the legal process by which a child or a group of siblings who cannot be brought up within their birth family become full, permanent and legal members of their new family.
Adopters become the child’s legal parents with the same rights and responsibilities as if the child was born to them.
Click on the logos below to provide you with help and more detailed information.
Kinship
Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for all kinship carers – the grandparents and siblings, the aunts, uncles, and family friends who step up to raise children when their parents can’t.
Barnardos
There are thousands of children in the UK currently waiting to be placed with foster carers or adoptive families. We aim to help as many of them as possible.
If a child can’t be looked after by his or her birth parents, they will be fostered or adopted.
We are the largest not-for-profit fostering and adoption agency in the UK and have over 100 years’ experience of placing children with families. We find, train and support carers and adoptive families so they can transform children’s lives.
UK Government
Fostering or adopting a child, including from abroad, and being a surrogate mother. This link provides facts and guidance including your legal rights when fostering or adopting.
First 4 Adoption
First4Adoption is the national information service for people interested in adopting a child in England. We give clear and impartial information about adopting and can put you in touch with adoption agencies in your area.
Adoption UK
Adoption UK is the leading charity providing support, community and advocacy for all those whose lives involve adoption, including those parenting children who cannot live with their birth families, and adopted people. We connect people, provide support and training and campaign for improvements to adoption policy and practice. We provide a strong, supportive community and are the largest voice of adopters in the UK
