Children’s Minister Edward Timpson announces new resources to help would-be adopters find a child to adopt – plus more cash for councils.

Prospective adopters can click onto new maps to see who could help them find a child to adopt – plus more cash for councils – in a package of support announced today by Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson.

For the first time fully interactive, clickable maps have been published to help would-be adopters find out more about agencies in their area and across the country, help them make an informed choice based on performance and help them access the most appropriate recruitment agency for them – wherever it may be.

Publication follows the successful launch of the first ever adoption maps at the start of this year, prompting a surge of enquires to the First4Adoption service. Also announced today:

• £50 million for councils as they prepare to implement reforms and work with voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) – and each other – to recruit more adopters for the 6,000 children waiting for a loving home
• a new adoption leadership board supporting local authorities drive through the reforms in the Children and Families Bill, and help adoption agencies stay on track recruiting more adoptive parents

Building on the successes of 2013, which saw a 34% increase in adopters and a record 15% rise in adoptions, Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson – who has 2 adopted brothers – said:

I’ve seen promising progress this year – a significant rise in adoptions and a huge increase in the numbers of adopters, but I am determined to do everything in my power to ensure the 6,000 children waiting are offered safe and caring homes. This Christmas I want anyone considering adoption to look carefully at the information in our interactive maps and consider whether they can offer a child a stable and loving home.

There remains significant work to do next year. Our new adoption leadership board will play an important role ensuring local authorities and adoption agencies stay on track and recruit more adopters – and a further £50 million for councils in 2014 will help them put the building blocks in place to implement our reforms.

You can read the full press release here!