Adoption East Midlands newsletter January 2025

Best wishes for 2025, from all of us here at AEM.

As we look back on 2024, we have so much to celebrate, some highlights include:

• Increasing our local presence at recruitment events
• Many successful approvals and matches and a lot of positive feedback about the support and preparation we provide to families, including through our learning and development offer
• Youth events, young adults’ group and family picnics
• The adoption panel team successfully recruiting two new chairs and a vice chair, adding to our panel diversity
• The launch of AFDiT nationally and locally which is a framework to support transracial adoption
• Our helpdesk
• The ‘Making Connections’ course which now incorporates new learning and approaches
• Our innovative birth family support team
• The ‘Voices of Adoption’ group, which even presented at a national conference!
• Our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) has made significant strides, growing the team and the services they offer to families
• Co-production is now an embedded part of our practice, hearing and learning from those with lived experience, and so a particular mention for our excellent Peers 4 Peers service and the work they’ve been doing this year, including the coffee mornings which we know were so valued by those attending.

We have so much to look forward to this year and lots of opportunities to keep involved and connected with our adoption community. We hope you’ll keep up to date here through the newsletter as well as following us on our social media channels.

Have you signed up to the Adoption England newsletter yet?

It’s a great place to get updates from the national team about adoption developments nationwide. The Adoption England website also hosts lots of resources that you may find helpful. It is constantly updated so it’s well worth checking out.

We are the Voices of Adoption Group, a forum focused on supporting adopted young people. We provide a platform for sharing experiences and building connections through regular meetings, engaging activity days and occasional residential events.

In this photo, you can see our dedicated team. Aimee, a passionate youth worker committed to empowering young voices and creating inclusive spaces where adopted young people can express themselves. Sarah, an experienced social worker, who brings a warm and welcoming approach, ensuring that every young person feels comfortable and supported as they navigate their unique journeys. Allison, our therapeutic social worker who specialises in emotional support and mental health, helping young people build resilience and coping strategies.

Together, we aim to create a welcoming environment where adopted young people can thrive. You will also see us at the young people’s events where we create opportunities for adopted young people to meet, gain a sense of belonging, develop their confidence and self-esteem and most importantly, have fun. We are always open to talking with parents about our events and how we can support their child/young person so we can meet their needs.

We’ve just completed our first youth club with ten children and it was a great success. Positive feedback from children and parents alike highlighted the engaging activities and supportive environment.

If you would like to register your child’s interest for the next youth club, please email youthconnect@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk

We look forward to welcoming more children and continuing to provide a fun and nurturing space for them to thrive in.

Our Education on TRACK (trauma, relationships, attachment, care and knowledge) service supports adoptive families through educational challenges. For more information on our 2025 training and workshop dates, please visit our website.

We also offer teachers training on sensory processing and trauma and attachment. If your child’s school would benefit, ask them to email mdt@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk

Our comprehensive training programmes for parents and teachers enhance the educational experience for children and parents. Visit the learning and development page on our Hub for more information.