FAMILIES are being urged to come forward to help the rising number of children in Swindon who need the stability of a permanent home.

Until recently, around 10 children a year were placed with adoptive parents in Swindon, but that figure has more than doubled in recent months and Swindon Council’s Family Placement Team is looking for more families from all sections of the community to provide loving homes.

The council is making the appeal ahead of National Adoption Week, which starts today and is particularly interested in hearing from prospective parents who live in Swindon’s surrounding areas as some children need to be placed outside the town.

Parents who join the adoption register can also be matched with a child from another local authority and, as there is a national shortage of adopters, Swindon also contributes to the national pool of adopters.

Susannah Fernandez, 33, is a single parent adopter who has just had 18-month-old Olivia placed in her care.

Susannah, who has a daughter of her own, eight-year-old Isabella, says adoption was always something she wanted to do.

“There are lots and lots of children who need a loving family and I was in a position where I wanted to expand my family and it felt like the right thing to do,” she said.

“Olivia has settled in very quickly. She adores her big sister and she has formed a very strong attachment to us.

“I think you need to be very aware of the child you are taking on, but as long as you go into it with your eyes open and listen to the advice from the experienced adoption team the right child is waiting there for you.”

Adoption support services adviser and assistant team manager for adoption, Lesley Harwood, said: “All children needing adoptive families have very individual personalities and need to be carefully matched with the right family. This is why we need more adopters than there are Swindon children needing families, so they and their new family are a “good match”.

“Adopters are also needed nationally.

“Single people and couples can adopt – couples can be married or not, in civil partnerships or not. They don’t have to own their own home or have a big income although their health needs to be good enough for them to be a hands-on adoptive parent.

“We offer a good training programme and support before a family are matched with a child and beyond the adoption order.

“The best adoptive families are those who appreciate the challenges of parenting an adopted child and who are not afraid to ask for support to do the best for their child.”

The council’s adoption team is having an open day on Wednesday at the Lyndhurst Centre, Lyndhurst Crescent, Park North, from noon to 7pm for people to come and chat to staff and adopters and explore whether adoption might be right for them.

Anyone wishing to find out more about adoption of these special children should call Swindon Council’s Family Placement Team on 01793 465700.

For more information about National Adoption Week visit the website at www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk.