ARC Adoption North East

The ARC Adoption team along with our valued Trustees and Panel members are heading out on our Christmas night out tonight. We can’t believe how quickly Christmas is approaching this year. Wishing everyone a festive and fun filled weekend 🎄🥳.

As a voluntary adoption agency, we support people to become adoptive parents and provide loving homes to children in care who can’t return to their birth family, both in our local area and further afield.

Currently there are over 2000 children in need of adoption in England, and 86 children specifically within the North East and Cumbria. There is a particularly high need too, for families for brother and sister groups, children aged four and over, and children with additional needs.

If you think you might be able to help, and would like to find out more about adoption and the support we can provide at ARC, please get in touch with us via our website. We’d be really happy to answer your questions: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/

Last Saturday we held an end of year event for our Children and Young Peoples Group. The children and their families joined ARC’s Lauren and Caroline to celebrate their achievements over the past year with a delicious afternoon tea and fun games. It is wonderful for the team to watch the young people in the group grow and develop, and also to hear from parents as to how valuable the group is:

“Hi both, Just wanted to thank you both so much for all you do. The group has helped us so much with Jake* and we appreciate the time you spend on such a successful and safe space for the children. Thank you for a lovely afternoon. Charlotte.”

Thank you to everyone who came along to the celebration and for helping to make the group a success throughout the year 🤩.

*Name changed for privacy

If you are interested in finding out more about adopting, our final information event of the year is taking place next week. Head to our website to register your place to join us online, and it could be the start of a very important journey in 2024 💞:

https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/Event/virtual-adoption-information-event-thursday-7th-december-2023

On Sunday we had the pleasure of hosting our families at our annual Christmas Party. Thank you so much to everyone who came along and joined in the celebrations 🎄🎅🤩!

Special thanks must go to:

✨ Our wonderful team (aka the ARC elves) who work really hard both long before and during the event to make it special for the children
✨ Our fantastic volunteers – friends, family, panel members and trustees who give up their time and effort to help us
✨ Ross from Key who kindly loaned us one of their vans to help transport our festive goodies and decor over the weekend
✨ The generous people and organisations who donated prizes for our raffle and tombola, helping us to raise funds that we can use to support our families ongoing, including:

Smyths Toys Superstores
Blue Kangaroo Design Ltd
Mill View Social Club
Nails by Heather
Beamish Museum
WWT Washington Wetland Centre
TeamSport Karting
Ho**er & Young
Tesco Kingston Park Newcastle
Baking by Susan
And all of the individuals who organised things for us 🙌🏻

Thanks also to the excellent team at Grand Hotel Gosforth Park Newcastle where nothing was too much trouble, and the very talented The Face Paint Saint and Candy kids entertainment 😃.

We are starting to feel the Christmas spirit and hope you are too 💖!

Thank you The Face Paint Saint for sharing your fabulous, festive sparkle with all of our families, and team at our Christmas Party ✨🤩!

If you live in the North East or Cumbria and are interested in finding out more about adoption and the support available, we have two information events coming up.

Join us online or meet us in person. - whichever suits you best, to have your questions answered by our friendly team and an adoptive parent who has already been there 💓.

Head to our website to register your place:

https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk

This week, some of our team took part in CVAA's annual conference looking at '21st Century Adoption: Responding to children's needs in the modern era.' It was a great event spent with friends and colleagues from other Voluntary Adoption Agencies and related organisations, hearing from inspiring speakers and passionately discussing the future of adoption 💗🏠.

Children who are aged four and over often wait longer to be adopted – but there are so many reasons why an older child might be right for your family:

🧁 They can communicate with you more easily helping you to understand their needs and build a connection
🧁 There is more understanding and less uncertainty of their health and development needs
🧁 There will still be lots of firsts to experience together, such as a first day at school or when they first call you 'Mam' or 'Dad'
🧁 As there are more older children in need of adoption than babies and very young children, you may find the right match more quickly

All adopters benefit from thorough preparation training from ARC Adoption, as well as a wide range of timely ongoing support from our experienced 'Therapeutic Adoption Support Service' team.

If you are interested in finding out more or have questions you’d like to ask, please get in touch with us via our website to register for an information event or to request a one-on-one chat ❤️. https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/

If you are in the early stages of looking into adoption and thinking about whether it is right for you, we can point you in the direction of some useful resources. On the ARC Adoption website you will find lots of information on:

❣️ The adoption process and the children in need of adoption
❣️ Who can adopt - in our FAQ section
❣️ Upcoming adoption info events with dates and links to register
❣️ Adopter stories and experiences - in the news section
❣️ Our wide range of ongoing support services
❣️ Our team and why you might choose a voluntary agency

You can take a look at the above and more at your leisure on our website, but if you'd like a chat with someone about your specific circumstances or if you have questions, click the enquiry button and we'll be in touch with you at a time convenient to you.

Head to our website here: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/

If you are exploring information available relating to adopting, it can be really helpful to hear and read about the experiences of parents who have already been there and done it.

Within the news sections of our website, you can read guest articles and interviews with adopters, sharing their different stories.

Jennifer and Stephen adopted two young sisters with our support in 2020 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧. Read their story via the link below:

Jennifer and Stephen's story - adopting sisters We talked to Jennifer and Stephen who adopted two young sisters with our support in 2020. They turned to adoption to complete their family, after attempts to have children naturally wasn’t successful. Below we share what adopting siblings has meant to them, and for their family.

Whether you’re just dipping your toe in the water, or you are further down the line with your thinking, our information events are a great way for you to learn more about the adoption process and the support you will receive from ARC along the way.

We have two events coming up, and you are welcome to join us either virtually or in-person to find out more, whilst meeting some of our friendly team and some of our fantastic adoptive parents.

Simply visit our events page on our website for more details and to register - we'd be delighted to help you.

https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/Pages/Events/Category/events

As a voluntary adoption agency, we support people to become adoptive parents and provide loving homes to children in care who can’t return to their birth family, both in our local area and further afield.

Currently there are over 2000 children in need of adoption in England, and 86 children specifically within the North East and Cumbria. There is a particularly high need too, for families for brother and sister groups, children aged four and over, and children with additional needs.

If you think you might be able to help, and would like to find out more about adoption and the support we can provide at ARC, please get in touch with us via our website. We’d be really happy to answer your questions.

Visit the ARC website here: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/

Thanks to everyone who braved the weather and the very muddy pumpkin patch on our half term visit to Tweddle Farm yesterday!

ARC’s Teresa had no problem in getting ‘stuck right in.’ 🤣🎃🚜

We have a virtual info event taking place this coming Thursday for people to find out more about adoption and the support we can provide at ARC.

Come along to listen in to key information shared by some of our team and hear the experience of an adopter, with the opportunity to ask any specific questions you have too.

Head to our website to register and get the link:

https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/Event/virtual-adoption-information-event-thursday-2nd-november-2023

Virtual Adoption Information Event - Thursday 2nd November 2023 - 02/11/2023 18:00:00 Are you considering growing your family through adoption? If so, the team at ARC Adoption North East would like to invite you to a virtual information event to find out more.

Wellies and waterproofs were at the ready this morning for a Halloween half term visit to Saltwell Park 🎃🍂🌧️!

Thanks to our families who braved the weather - Donna and Caroline really enjoyed seeing you all 💛!

We have an Introduction to ARCBOX workshop and demonstration taking place this Wednesday evening for ARC adopters who would like to know more about our digital life story platform, and see how it could help support your child or children.

Head to the events section on the ARC website to book your place, and to see other workshops we have available to you: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/events

For ARC adopters who are already familiar and registered with ARCBOX, we will be organising a separate session to help support you soon.

Last week it was our pleasure to share the thoughts and experiences of adopted people as part of National Adoption Week 💕. If any of the information shared has inspired you to find out more about adopting, you may be interested to see what the adoption process entails.

Click on the two images for a quick look 👉.

If you would benefit from more detail or the opportunity to ask questions, we have an information event coming up on the 2nd November. Register to join our team and an adoptive parent via our website - we'd be happy to help you understand if it is something you could do:

https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/Event/virtual-adoption-information-event-thursday-2nd-november-2023

We are delighted to share this guest blog on the ARC Adoption website, where foster carer and adopter Joanne, shares her experience of adopting through early permanence.

Head to our website to read the news article, and to find out more about the benefits and challenges associated with early permanence (previously known as fostering for adoption): https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/news/joanne-shares-her-experience-of-early-permanence-adoption

Guest Blog: Joanne shares her experience of early permanence adoption In this guest blog, foster carer and adoptive parent Joanne, shares her story of adopting through early permanence.

Over the last five years, there has been a 23% decrease in the children being adopted.

This National Adoption Week we are celebrating different generations of adopted people to show how adoption has changed through the decades and to encourage potential adopters to come forward and change the life of children who are waiting for their forever home.

At ARC, we feel privileged to be there to help and support our wonderful families, and see them achieve amazing things together 💕.

Find out more about adopting and the support available on our website: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/News/arc-adoption-supports-national-adoption-week-2023

As a voluntary adoption agency, we support people to become adoptive parents and provide loving homes to children in care who can’t return to their birth family, both in our local area and further afield.

Currently there are 86 children waiting to be adopted in the local authorities within the North East and Cumbria, and in particular, there is a high need for adopters to come forward for brother and sister groups, children aged four and over, and children with additional needs.

This National Adoption Week we are celebrating the impact being adopted has made to people’s lives, as well as encouraging new families to consider if it is something they could do.

If you’d like to find out more about adoption and the support we can provide at ARC, head to our website for information, to request a call with our team, or to sign up to an info event. We’d be really happy to answer your questions.

Visit the ARC website here: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/

Not only is it National Adoption Week, but it's also adoption panel day in the ARC Adoption office!

To our families attending panel today - we wish you the very best of luck, as you approach this very important milestone in your journey ❤️!

Nathaniel was adopted in the 2010's and he describes it as 'transformational.' 💕

Today, there are still many children waiting for their forever home, and this National Adoption Week, You Can Adopt and adoption agencies around the country like ARC, are shining a light on the impact a loving and permanent family home can have on a child's life.

Visit the ARC website to find out more about adopting, or get in touch to have an informal conversation with a member of our team:

https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/

We love to share the experiences of families that we have worked with at ARC, and as we have been highlighting the need for more sibling adopters in the North East and Cumbria recently, Kirsty and Paul's story was an obvious and inspiring one to share.

The couple first adopted a little girl, but then adopted her baby twin sisters when they came along only a year later. As you can imagine there have been challenges along the way but they did it, and are living a happy life as a loving family of five.

Read their story on the ARC website: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/news/kirstys-story-adopting-our-daughter-and-her-baby-twin-sisters

Next week is National Adoption Week and there are a range of free events taking place for adopted people, adopters, prospective adopters, birth family and professionals 🧡.

Head to the You Can Adopt website to check out the event listings and to sign up: https://www.youcanadopt.co.uk/naw2023/events/

Along with other voluntary adoption agencies, we asked families why they chose to adopt brothers and sisters. Many of them shared with us that it was important to them, to help siblings in care to 'stay together' 💞.

With over 40% of the children in need of adoption being part of a family group, we are always looking for people to consider whether they could adopt siblings together.

Read more thoughts and advice from adopters in our new guide on the ARC website - or get in touch with us if you'd like us to answer your questions: buff.ly/2LaXMhv

📌 Upcoming workshops for ARC families and your schools 📌

Over the next month we have the following workshops coming up:

▪️ Wed 11th Oct 6pm: Training for Schools - Supporting Children who are Adopted (online)
▪️ Wed 18th Oct 6pm: Self Care for Adopters (in-person)
▪️ Sat 21st Oct 9.30am: Theraplay (in-person)
▪️ Wed 1st Nov 6pm: Talking to your Child about their Life Story (in-person)

Head to the ARC website for more information on what these sessions involve and who they are suitable for, as well as how to book your space if you haven't already: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/Pages/Events/Category/events

Are you thinking about becoming a parent through adoption? ARC Adoption North East is an outstanding-rated adoption agency based in Sunderland, working with families throughout the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Get in touch with us to find out about the adoption process and the ongoing support that you will receive from our dedicated team.

Head to our website to complete our enquiry form and request a call back, or to sign up for an info event: www.arcadoptionne.org.uk

Our next virtual adoption information session is taking place this coming Thursday. If you're looking to find out more about adoption, join us and get all your questions answered. As well as our team, we also have an adoptive parent joining us, to share some of her experience of adopting her little boy and girl along with her husband 💕.

We hope you can join us. Register on the ARC website: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/Event/virtual-adoption-information-event-thursday-5th-october-2023

ARC Adoption has come together with other Voluntary Adoption Agencies from around the country, along with adoptive parents, to create a helpful guide related to adopting brothers and sisters 💕.

In this guide, parents who have already adopted siblings share their experiences, insights and useful advice.

Sending a really big thank you to all of the parents who contributed to this guide, to share with people considering adoption.

Head to our website to download a copy of the guide: https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/News/adopting-brothers-and-sisters-advice-guide

Over the weekend, a six-strong, fabulous team of people from Network Rail took on the Three Peaks challenge, raising money for ARC Adoption’s Helen Linforth Children’s Fund 🙌🏻.

The team did absolutely amazing in completing the challenge, which involved travelling between and scaling , Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon in 24 hours, raising over £1000 which will help to support ARC Adoption families!

We are extremely grateful to have the Helen Linforth Children’s Fund chosen by the team as the benefactor of their fundraising. Thank you so much to Michael, Jason, Nicole, Kieron, Daniel and Daz from all of the ARC Adoption team! You are all fantastic!

Here are some wonderful photographs the team sent through to us 📸.

LGBTQ+ in the UK & considering adoption or fostering? Join us for free as a Bronze member to use our session finder. On it you'll find info events across the country, all held by local agencies keen to hear from you as a potential applicant. 🏳️‍🌈

https://newfamilysocial.org.uk/Join-Us-Bronze

This week there’s events in:

North East England
30 September – Adopt with ARC Adoption North East feat. an LGBTQ+ guest speaker / ARC Adoption North East

North West England
28 September – Foster with Blackpool Borough Council / Blackpool Fostering

South East England
25 September – Adopt with Adopt South / Adopt South

West Midlands
27 September – Adopt with Adoption Focus / Adoption Focus

Yorkshire & The Humber
27 September – Adopt with One Adoption North & Humber RAA / One Adoption
28 September – Adopt with One Adoption West Yorkshire RAA / One Adoption