Anyone considering adoption can choose to enquire through their local authority, a regional adoption agency or a voluntary adoption agency (VAA) like Adoption Matters.
We know it’s very hard to make the decision of which agency to choose for your adoption journey. You will be working alongside the agency you choose for a long time, through your adoption process and many years of ongoing support and guidance. That’s why it’s so very important the choice is right for you and your family.
We often encourage people to ‘shop around’ and speak to a few different agencies before making their decision. Choosing an adoption agency is a big step, and it’s important that the agency you choose feels right for you. We genuinely believe adoption is far too important for a hard sell. Instead, we want prospective adopters to make an informed choice and find the agency that best meets their needs.
As with many important decisions in life, your instincts will inevitably play a part. And that’s absolutely okay. But because adoption is such a significant, long-term commitment, we’d encourage you to consider a few other factors alongside your gut feeling before deciding which agency is right for you 😊
- Ask about ongoing support – this is the number 1 important factor.
- Ask about staff retention in the adoption and adoption support teams – this isn’t something that is published or included in any reports, but it is vitally important.
- Read their Ofsted reports, not just the latest one, go back at least 2-3 reports. Ofsted ratings aren’t everything, but they really do matter.
And now for the part you were probably expecting… why we think Adoption Matters deserves top place on your shortlist! 😊 While it’s important to do your research and trust your instincts, we’d love to tell you a little more about what makes our agency different.
- A wider pool of children to consider As an independent voluntary adoption agency, we work with local authorities across the whole country. This gives our adopters access to a broader pool of children, which many families value when they don’t want their options to be restricted by geography alone.
- Ongoing support, for life – As our website home pages says, from the first phone call, to the first grandchild. We’re here for you. Not a cheesy marketing line, we really are. Our support and training start during your assessment, when you will be invited to training with our Centre for Fostering & Adoption Support, who offer a host of webinars which your friends and family can also access, through to your assessment, regular support during family finding and increased support during those first few months when a child / children are placed. We offer a host of training and consultation sessions which will be tailored to your own needs. This support and training are there for you when you need it, if that’s 10 years after your child is placed, we will be here for you.
- Local support, delivered by local people Our teams are home‑based across all our coverage areas, which means adopters receive support from staff who genuinely understand their local communities. We continue to offer a wide range of face‑to‑face support groups in local areas, multicultural meet‑ups, family events and picnics. This year we’ve added a new Yorkshire meet‑up specifically for LGBTQ+ adopters, strengthening our commitment to inclusive, accessible support.
- Flexible ways to connect Together with our in‑person groups, our online support sessions give families the chance to connect with a wider network of adopters, share experiences and access support in a way that fits their lives. We have recently introduced a new solo adopter support group too.
- Lived experience  Many of our team members, trustees, panel members and volunteers bring direct lived experience of adoption and the care system — as adopters, foster parents, adopted adults or people with care experience. This personal insight helps shape the way we work and the support we offer.
- Independent, child‑focused and not politically governed We are an independent children’s charity — not part of a local council and not aligned to any political party. This independence allows us to stay focused on what matters: finding the right families for children and providing adopters with consistent, high‑quality support regardless of changes in local or national politics.
- We strive to be a genuinely inclusive adoption agency, welcoming applicants from all walks of life. We value and consider people of all faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders and abilities, and we are committed to ensuring every prospective adopter feels respected, supported and able to bring their full selves to the process. Our focus is on your capacity to provide a safe, loving and stable home — nothing else.
- We also have several staff working groups including neurodiversity to help strengthen our recruitment and support offer to both our staff and prospective adopters.
To find out more, download one of our adoption information packs using our short enquiry form, or you can contact our enquiry team via:
Freephone: 0300 123 1066  or WhatsApp: 07789 478 201
