News

One in four people have considered, or would consider, adopting a child in the future, according to a Mori survey of more than 2,000 adults commissioned by British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering.

In contrast, only 2 per cent of the British population have actually adopted a child.

The research was commissioned for the launch of National Adoption Week - a nationwide campaign to recruit adoptive families, supported by the Department of Health with a £50,000 grant to BAAF.

Other findings include that single adults are three times more likely to adopt than married couples, co-habiting couples are twice as likely to adopt as married couples, and black people twice as likely to adopt compared with the rest of the population. In addition, one in three people aged over 45 consider themselves too old to adopt.

The research also casts light on the influence of post-adoption support as a factor in considering adoption, with one quarter saying regular financial support, larger accommodation, and support with difficulties as the child got older would encourage them to adopt.

"This research clearly demonstrates how important it is for adoption agencies to be inclusive in targeting their recruitment campaigns at people from all social and racial backgrounds and in all types of family structures," said BAAF chief executive Felicity Collier. "We are concerned that a third of adults aged over 45 feel they are too old to adopt, whereas we know that older people often have the maturity and experience to care for children with a troubled past."