Loving adoptive families wanted for children under two years old

“Seeing Freddie's joyful smile every day is a constant reminder that we made the right decision in adopting him. He has brought a level of happiness and fulfillment to our lives that we never thought possible.”

That's the heartwarming response from adoptive father Simon, who shares his story as part of a new appeal to find loving homes for children in Lancashire and Blackpool, particularly babies and toddlers.

When Simon and his partner Stuart adopted baby Freddie earlier this year, their lives changed forever.

For the first time in three years, more than half of the children waiting for adoption at Adoption Lancashire and Blackpool are under two years old.

In Lancashire, 26 children are waiting to find a loving forever home; in Blackpool, there are 11.

There are more boys than girls and half of these children have been waiting for more than six months to find a permanent, loving home.

If you adopt a younger child, you can share all of your child's first milestones with him: for example, seeing his first smile, helping him take his first steps, and celebrating his first birthday with him.

Simon Continuation:

“Freddie's adoption was an incredible and life-changing experience for us as same-sex parents. From the beginning of the adoption process, we felt supported by the service and our social worker, which made the journey smoother and more encouraging than we could have ever imagined.

“Adoption Lancashire and Blackpool (ALB) and our social worker have been a huge support throughout the process of bringing Freddie into our family. From the outset, the agency made sure we felt well informed and comfortable at every stage of the process, from explaining the process to guiding us through the necessary paperwork.

“Our social worker was especially compassionate and took the time to get to know us and understand our hopes and dreams for the family we were creating. Her personalized approach made us feel like she was genuinely interested in helping us become parents, and her constant communication helped ease any fears we had along the way.

“ALB advocated for us and Freddie, ensuring that his well-being was always at the forefront of every decision. When challenges arose, be they logistical or emotional, they were and are always there with support and practical advice. Their guidance gave us the tools we needed to be the best parents possible to Freddie, and we are forever grateful for the role they played in starting our family.”

Councillor Cosima Towneley, Lancashire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said:

“It is heartwarming to hear happy stories like Simon and Freddie’s. I hope their experience inspires others to take the plunge and discover the joy and opportunity that comes with fostering a child from Lancashire.

“If you are looking to expand your family and it is in your heart to love one of our wonderful children, contact our team.”

Louise Anderson, Chair of Adoption Lancashire and Blackpool, said:

“We are happy to accept applications from people of all sexualities and genders. It doesn't matter whether you are married, in a relationship or single. Looking after children can be something for everyone.

“It is vital that these children find a loving, stable and supportive home. We hope there is someone special out there for them, we just need them to come forward.

“If you would like to adopt but are concerned about whether you can afford the costs of expanding your family, we recommend that you speak to our adoption team.”

“Adoption is a big, life-changing decision to consider, but there is so much support available to guide adoptive parents and children through the process of starting over. We would love to hear from anyone who is thinking about embarking on this journey to a new family.”

Councillor Jim Hobson, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said:

“We encourage anyone considering adoption to always contact our friendly and knowledgeable team.

“You can speak to them by phone and we also hold regular information sessions around the country where you can find out more about adopting with us and ask any questions you may have. We would love to encourage even more loving potential adoptive parents to get in touch.”

For more information visit adoptionlancashireblackpool.org.uk or call 0300 123 6727.

*Names and pictures have been changed to protect the children's identities.