FAMILIES are encouraged to adopting a child during National Adoption Week.

Since April, 27 children or young people have been adopted in Wiltshire. But 16 are still waiting to find a new home.

As part of the UK-wide initiative, ending on November 10 and its own Help our Children Find a Family campaign, Wiltshire Council wants adoptive parents to come forward and share their experience with people across the region.

Cabinet member for children services, Laura Mayes, said: “So far we are very pleased by the response, but we need more people to come forward.

“There are very few limitations when people are considered as adopters. We assess on merit rather than age, marital status, income or sexuality.

“We are looking for people who can offer a child or a group of siblings a caring and loving environment in which to grow up and thrive.”

“It is also an immensely rewarding experience for the adopters.”

Children needing adoption are unable to stay with their birth family because of neglect, abuse or parents’ inability to cope.

To find out more about adoption visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ healthandsocialcare/adoption or call 0800 1696321.