Letter published 28 December 2012

1. Sir
It is excellent news that the Government is intent on improving the support for adopted children and
their parents (Dec 24). The other adoption reforms simply cannot succeed without the essential
support post-adoption that many adoptive families need. This is not a cheap option and will require
investment though the cost will invariably be less than keeping a child in care. Children adopted from
care can exhibit enduring symptoms of the trauma they experienced with their birth families and
specialist therapy may be required throughout an adoptee’s childhood and into adulthood.
In support of finding the right families for the hardest to place children Adoption UK has published a
monthly magazine for over 30 years profiling up to 200 children and sibling groups each month. The
service is also available on-line. Your otherwise excellent article on the reforms referred to this
specialist service as an “occasional newsletter” which could mislead the reader about the nature and
value of this service for adoption agencies, prospective adopters, and most importantly, children
desperately in need of the right loving family.
Yours faithfully
Hugh Thornbery
Chief Executive, Adoption UK
Linden House | 55 The Green | South Bar Street | Banbury | Oxon | OX16 9AB
Tel: 01295 752240
www.adoptionuk.org