Adoption journey shows how families come in all shapes and sizes

A BUSINESSWOMAN who always wanted to start her own family has shared her adoption journey to highlight the difference it can make to a child’s life.

Adoptive parent, Jessica, whose real name has been changed to protect her identity, has given an insight into what to expect when going through the adoption process.

In 2023, Jessica started the process with Adoption Now as a single adopter, following an unsuccessful IVF journey.

Tameside Council works in partnership with Adoption Now, alongside Bolton, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale councils, to find local children and young people a permanent place to call home. There are currently 94 children waiting to be adopted across Tameside and the other four authorities.

Jessica said: “Adoption felt like the natural, right route for me, as my nieces are adopted and I had considered adopting for many years.

“My only worry was being a single person and whether that would that go against me. But families come in all shapes and sizes. They are just looking for people that can give a child a good life.”

Throughout the process Jessica and her social worker built a strong relationship, which she said was so important.

Jessica said: “Everything was explained to me really well, and my social worker was always on hand if I had any questions.”

Jessica was approved to adopt in 2024, and one month later was matched with Leo under early permanence.

Early permanence is an approach to adoption where a child is placed with carers as early as possible, with the plan that those carers may go on to become the child’s adoptive parents if they cannot return to their birth family.

Jessica cared for Leo while court proceedings were ongoing and took part in birth parent contact, visiting his birth mum four times per week for over a year.

Jessica said: “If you’d asked me before, I was a bit worried about hostility towards me as an adopter, but it wasn’t like that at all. It was a real benefit as it gave us a chance to get to know each other.

“She feels comfortable that I’ve adopted him, and it gave me the opportunity to learn things about him that aren’t written down on a piece of paper.”

Leo is now two years old and settled into family life and Jessica has just started the adoption process for a second time.

To anyone considering adoption, Jessica said: “Start the process! Don’t delay because you’re worried about having the perfect home, good enough finances or the right time; there’s a period of time in the process. Make that first enquiry and I think you’ll find out loads about adoption that you didn’t know.”

Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Children’s and Families, Cllr Teresa Smith said: “Jessica’s story goes to show that you don’t need the ‘perfect’ life to adopt.

“What matters most is providing a safe, loving and stable home where children can thrive. We are incredibly proud to support adopters like Jessica, who are being the difference to the lives of children and young people in Tameside.”

Find out more about adopting in Tameside by visiting www.adoptionnow.org.uk or calling 01204 336096.