Each year National Adoption Week brings us an opportunity to highlight the ongoing need of children in England needing to be adopted. Right now according to Department for Education statistics there are 2,100 children waiting for a family. Many of them are from Black or other Minority Ethnic backgrounds. This year in addition to that need, National Adoption Week champions the voices less heard, including those of birth parents. A special animated film has been released today and it features real accounts from each of the groups whose lives are affected by adoption.
In addition to the film, a range of events are taking place this week, and in coming weeks, which are open to those thinking about adoption as well as those already approved to adopt, and others affected by adoption. The full range is listed on the #YouCanAdopt website.
The Children's Minister, Will Quince MP, is also hosting a special reception at Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday 19th October. This is for those working on the National Adoption Week campaign, including adopters who have shared their stories. IAC will be represented by our CEO, Satwinder Sandhu.
He says: "We are really pleased that IAC has ben able to play a role in helping shape the national debate around adoption, and in making National Adoption Week more inclusive. Whilst our focus is primarily international adoptions, last year we placed 17 children from across the UK and we continue to grow our team so we can make even more impact. The new film really highlights how adoption affects everyone touched by it and we now want that understanding extended to our international adoption work. As we head into IAC's 25th anniversary in 2022 we shall be doing just that, particularly through the support of our ambassadors."
Dominic Paul and Joy Carter both recently became IAC Ambassadors. Dominic will be taking up the role indefinitely and Joy primarily for National Adoption Week. Dominic and Joy are both internationally adopted adults and so bring their lived experiences to this role. We shall also be announcing other exciting names in the coming months.
When it comes to international adoption, the Covid-19 pandemic means that the need for adoption is greater than ever. IAC is keen therefore to ensure that we continue to highlight the need for more families to also adopt internationally and we are still actively fundraising for our Covid Kinship Bursary Fund, as many kinship adopters are having to care for their orphaned relatives. We are therefore delighted that our ambassadors will be actively showcasing the work of IAC, and the impact of international adoption during the week.
Dominic is featured in Kent Live today and his episode of Thriving Adoptees Podcast is now available to listen to. Dominic and Satwinder will also be joining Trisha Goddard on Talk Radio this Saturday. Joy will be featured in Best magazine this week and in Woman's Own and Good Housekeeping in coming months. In addition Satwinder will be speaking to various radio shows across the country about why it is so important that awareness of adoption continues to be raised. We are extremely grateful to Dominic and Joy, and all the publications, for their support of IAC and National Adoption Week.