Adoption Now issues plea as number of children need adoption in the North West increases by 62% in five years

A new national report from Adoption England and Coram has warned that, by 2030, there may only be enough approved adoptive families for 13% of children needing a permanent home in England, if registrations decline further.

However, the report shows that if adopter registrations returned to the levels achieved just a few years ago, permanent homes could be found for nearly 1,000 more children in England by 2030.

In the North West, the number of children needing adoption has risen by 62% over the past five years, reaching 470 children in 2025/26 - raising concerns that more children could spend more time without a permanent family in the years ahead.

With adopter registrations in the North West having fallen by 22% in the past five years, according to data from LAs and RAAs, adoption agencies are encouraging more people to come forward and consider adoption to help ensure children can find the loving, permanent families they need.

The data also shows that children in need of adoption in the North West spend an average of 298 days without a permanent home, after a plan for adoption is made for them. For children, these delays are not just numbers on a page. They are critical days of childhood, valuable days that could have been spent with the stability, security and sense of belonging that a permanent family can provide.

To highlight the impact of these delays, Adoption Now is backing a new You Can Adopt campaign, Every Day is Everything, demonstrating how these outcomes can be changed, if more prospective adopters take the first step in their adoption journey.

The campaign celebrates the everyday moments that make up family life, from the morning rush and mealtimes to bedtime chats and everything in-between. While these moments may seem simple, for a child who has experienced instability, having someone there every day can mean everything.

The campaign is also backed by celebrities with personal connections to adoption. Roxy Hotchkiss and her adoptive mum Judy Wilson revealed their adoption story while appearing together on BBC's The Traitors. Roxy said: "I moved between seven different foster families by the time I was five years old – a huge amount of my early childhood. Because of that, I’m very aware that for children who need a permanent home and family through adoption, every day matters. Being adopted by my mum gave me the stability, security and unconditional love every child should have - hearing the words 'love you' before bed each night and knowing someone is always going to be there for me. For a child who has experienced instability, those things mean everything.”

Ellie Simmonds OBE, said: "I was adopted when I was just a few months old, so adoption has always been an integral part of my life. While it wasn't something I spoke about publicly until recently, among my siblings and me, who are also adopted, it was something we were all very much aware of.

My parents have always been my biggest supporters and have always been there for me, no matter what. From the early morning starts taking me to swimming training to Sunday roast dinners together, it's those everyday moments that have meant so much to me.

I'm sure it will resonate with many people, but it's the everyday things that make a family a family. Those moments might seem ordinary, but they can shape a child's confidence, identity and future in extraordinary ways. I know my parents shaped who I am today, and I'm so grateful they did."

Ellie, Roxy and Judy appear in a powerful new film that uses significant numbers to tell real stories of adoption - alongside real adoptive families and Post Adoption Social Worker and former Love Island winner Sanam Fagan (née Harrinanan). Together, they share the numbers that define their everyday family lives, before the film reveals the harder-hitting numbers behind the growing need for more adopters.

There is a family out there for every child needing adoption – but they are yet to come forward. The campaign aims to reassure potential adopters that they do not need to have everything perfectly in place before exploring adoption and that support is available throughout the process and beyond. Some of the biggest barriers people face are concerns that they need to own their home, fit a traditional idea of an adoptive parent, or have everything figured out before coming forward. In reality, adoption agencies are looking for people who can provide a safe, stable and loving home.

Sarah Johal MBE, National Adoption Strategic Lead at Adoption England, said: “Social workers are unable to find families for all the children who need adoption, but we can change this trajectory. The families that these children need are out there. They may even be thinking about adoption already but have not come forward yet.

“With the right support and encouragement, we need more people to take that first step and help improve outcomes for children. And that first step is simply a call with a local adoption agency to find out more. We want to reassure prospective adopters that adoption is not about being perfect, it is about being there every day, for the everyday moments. Because for a child in need of adoption, every day is everything.”

Dame Carol Homden, Chief Executive Officer, Coram:

“Behind every statistic in this report is a child needing the love and stability that a permanent family can provide. Our analysis shows a growing gap between the number of children who need adoption and the number of prospective adopters stepping forward, meaning too many children risk spending longer in care during some of the most important years of their lives.

“These are not just days on a calendar. They are opportunities to build relationships, grow in confidence and experience the security of knowing they belong. That is why we need more people to consider whether adoption could be right for them. You do not need to be perfect to adopt. What matters most is being able to offer a child the everyday love and commitment that can change the course of their life.”

There is no commitment required to take an initial step towards adoption. For many people, starting the journey is simply having a friendly, informal conversation with their local adoption agency and finding out more about what adoption involves. Support is available throughout the adoption process and beyond.

The campaign is encouraging more people to consider adoption and find out more, by searching You Can Adopt. #EveryDayisEverything