In this episode of Adoption in Focus, Mike and Caroline share their family's journey through early permanence adoption, offering an honest look at what it means to welcome a child into your home while living with uncertainty. 

They reflect on attachment, navigating the unknown, and the emotional realities of caring for a baby who may or may not become a permanent part of your family.

The conversation also explores the practical challenges of the early permanence process, the support that made a difference, and the profound impact that stability and early connection can have on a child's life. Filled with compassion, insight and hope, this episode shines a light on the courage it takes to build a family in a unique and deeply meaningful way.

If you enjoyed this episode we'd love to hear from or, if you have any topics you'd like us to discuss please email: [email protected]

In this episode, we’re joined by Reverend Doctor Sarah to explore how faith can shape the journey of adoption and family life. 

Together we talk about navigating joy and sadness in adoption, welcoming children into communities of faith, and how churches and faith groups can create spaces of belonging that are supportive, inclusive and trauma-aware.

 If you enjoyed this episode we'd love to hear from or, if you have any topics you'd like us to discuss please email: [email protected]

In this episode we’re joined by Alex, a single adopter who shares her honest and deeply personal experience of welcoming an older child into her life. 

Alex reflects on what first drew her to adopting a child over the age of five, and how the reality of introductions, transitions, and early placement differed from what she expected. 

Four years on, Alex shares the lessons she’s learned along the way, offering thoughtful advice for anyone considering adoption of older children. 

In this episode Lisa talks with Jo and Joe about one of the most important and often daunting parts of adoption: contact with birth family.

They’ll share their journey from the early stages of adoption through meeting their daughter’s birth parents, navigating those first emotions, and thinking about what contact might look like in the future. 

Their experience is a powerful reminder that every family’s journey is unique, and that staying open, curious, and child-focused can make contact a positive part of adoption. 

Thank you for listening, and a huge thank you to Jo and Joe for sharing their story so openly.

Chris shares his personal journey as an adoptee, reflecting on the lifelong impact of early trauma after being removed from his biological parents as a baby and adopted at the age of two. Although he has no conscious memory of this time, becoming a father himself brought a powerful realisation of the significance of those early separations, prompting him to explore adoption, attachment, and identity more deeply 
 
Chris highlights the importance of open conversations, mental health support, and community for adoptees, as well as greater understanding from society and adoptive parents. Through learning, therapy, and connection with other adoptees, Chris has gained clarity, self-compassion, and a stronger sense of who he is.

If you have something you'd like to talk to us about on the podcast please get in touch: [email protected]. 

In this moving and insightful episode, John takes us through the journey he and his partner undertook to grow their family through adoption. 

He reflects on the emotional highs and lows of the matching process, the importance of patience and preparedness, and the moment their son finally came home a turning point that made every challenge along the way worthwhile. 

John’s candid account offers a powerful reminder that while every adoption story is unique, the love and resilience at the heart of the journey are universal. 

If you have a topic you'd like to speak to us about please get in touch: [email protected] 

This episode offers a heartfelt look at parenting through trauma, neurodiversity and adoption. Our guest, Gail shares her family's journey from the challenges that surfaced with the arrival of a new sibling to the healing and connection that followed. 

If you have a topic you'd like to speak to us about please get in touch: [email protected] 

In this special Black History Month episode, we’re joined by Leroy to talk about adoption within the Black community why representation matters, the challenges that still exist, and how community and culture play a vital role in a child’s sense of identity and belonging.

It’s an honest, heartfelt conversation Leroy address the barriers the black community may have to adoption and what it really means to create a safe, loving, stable family. 

If this conversation inspires you to learn more about adoption, reach out to us here at Adoption Focus for more information and support.

www.adoption-focus.org.uk

 In this episode, the team at Adoption Focus discusses the recent cuts to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) and what they mean for adoptive families. 

Despite funding being reduced and introduced with little notice, the team reassures listeners that support from Adoption Focus remains unaffected. 

They explain the impact on therapy access, how families can continue to get help, and the importance of reaching out no matter how big or small the issue. 

You're not alone, and support is still here for you. 

In this episode, we sit down with Sunny, a Sikh mother whose path to adoption led her to embrace a love that transcends cultural boundaries. 

With remarkable honesty and warmth, Sunny shares her journey from the initial doubts and fears about how her decision might be received within her community, to the powerful support she found along the way. 

She opens up about what it means to honour her Sikh faith while welcoming a child from a different heritage, and how this experience has deepened both her spiritual and personal identity.