Richmond Council is urging residents in Hammersmith and Ealing from black, mixed race or ethnic minority backgrounds to find out more about offering a permanent home to a young person.

Most children who are adopted need to make a fresh start away from the borough where they live. Therefore, adoption teams have to recruit people from outside the local area to be adoptive parents.

There are many children from black, mixed race or ethnic minority backgrounds currently waiting to be adopted and every effort is made to match children with adoptive parents who can reflect their ethnic heritage.

Richmond Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, Cllr Malcolm Eady, said, “There are many myths surrounding adoption and the people who can apply to be assessed as prospective adoptive parents. Couples and individuals, with or without their own children, can come from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds. The most important thing is that they can offer a child a permanent and loving home.

“For many people, the idea of coming forward to adopt can be a daunting prospect. However, the Richmond Adoption Team is dedicated to making the process as easy as possible.

“We are holding an information evening for would-be adopters on Tuesday 6 February and I urge anyone who is interested to get in touch with Richmond Adoption Service to find out more.”

May 15 2006