Adoption East Midlands newsletter November 2025

We’ve had a busy National Adoption Week (20 to 26 October) here at Adoption East Midlands.  This year was themed ‘A Welcome Home’ emphasising that children don’t need perfection, and that what matters most is a warm and welcoming home.

Our campaign featured real stories and children’s drawings of what ‘home’ means. We’ve also been out and about, connecting with communities at our events including at the Derbion shopping centre the Royal Derby Hospital and an in-person information event in Nottingham.

To learn more and stay updated, visit our website (link below) and follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Every child deserves a loving home.

Did you know we offer targeted group interventions to support adoptive parents funded via the Adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF)?
These include:

• Making Connections – therapeutic sessions focused on developmental trauma, to support connection and relationship with your child/ren.
• Theraplay ® – an interactive group for adoptive parents, supporting the development of connection and attachment, through play.
• Parent and Child Sensory Group – a space to explore sensory development and play together with your child.
• Neurowise – a programme for adopters caring for children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and other neurodivergent needs.

These interventions are a great way to connect with others, share experiences, and learn helpful approaches in a supportive environment.

Dates for our 2026 group are now live on our Hub, so get in touch to find out more.

Join us for a joyful afternoon at our Christmas family meet-Up on Saturday, 6 December, 2pm until 4pm!

This festive gathering is a wonderful opportunity for adoptive families to connect, share stories, and celebrate the season together.

Expect fun activities, refreshments and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. We’d love to see you there!

We’ve been celebrating the incredible careers of some of our valued colleagues as they embarked on their well-earned retirements.

After many years of dedicated service, social workers Jane Dracup, Sarah Kentish, Jasvir Kaur and Rose Sealey have officially closed their laptops to embrace new adventures. All four had been part of Adoption East Midlands since its launch in 2019, following long and impactful careers in their local authorities. Holidays and travel seem to be top of the list for their retirement plans, and each has shared how amazed they are to have ever found time to work!

We also bid a fond farewell to our Adoption Support Team Manager, Helen Redford, who retired at the end of September. Helen has worked in adoption services for over two decades, beginning her journey in Nottinghamshire as a social worker and team manager, before transitioning to Adoption East Midlands. While much of her career was spent in the recruitment and assessment team, Helen has thoroughly enjoyed her last four years in adoption support. Her retirement plans include plenty of travel and time spent nurturing her garden.

Our heartfelt thanks and best wishes to Jane, Sarah, Jasvir, Rose and Helen for their incredible contributions and we wish them all a happy, fulfilling retirement.

Adoption support is also delighted to welcome Sarah Fletcher as our new team manager and Lois Fearn as our newest social worker. We look forward to the fresh energy and expertise they bring to the team!

We are hosting a Global Majority Digital Roadshow, a virtual event hearing and celebrating the diverse experiences of adoptive families who have adopted a child with a different ethnic or cultural background to their own.

This event will offer supportive space for parents raising children from all backgrounds and promotes cultural identity, representation, and shared understanding. Attendees can connect with others and contribute feedback to shape future services that better reflect the needs of diverse adoptive families.

Please join us on Thursday 27 November, 6:30pm until 8:00pm on Microsoft Teams.

Adoption East Midlands is launching Gen Connect, a welcoming group for young people aged 11 to 18 whose gender differs from their birth.

This confidential space offers connection, support, and self-expression. If your young person is exploring or affirming their gender identity, Gen Connect welcomes them with open arms, providing a place to belong.

Adoption England has introduced new National Practice Standards for staying in touch/contact, supporting adopted children in maintaining safe, meaningful relationships.

Developed with sector experts and lived experience voices, the standards guide agencies from care planning through adoption and beyond. They emphasise identity, emotional wellbeing, and lifelong connections, encouraging personalised approaches.

This marks a significant step in modernising adoption practice and ensuring children’s relationships remain central to their journey.