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Adoption

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on adoption.

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Original poster

Best adoption related organisation you have ever joined

15 replies

Italiangreyhound · 10/02/2013 22:08

Hi, can anyone advise me, please?

Is there an organisation you have joined that has been better, better value for money, more supportive, more helpful etc etc, please?

We have not joined anything yet but I would like to and because cash is short and time is limited would rather plough time and energy into one that might be helpful personally. Sounds very selfish but I just wondered.....

Thanks.

OP posts:

KristinaM · 11/02/2013 09:03

I joined adoption uk and went to meetings where I met other adopters and prospective adopters. I also enjoyed their courses and journal . Getting to know other adoptive families, especially those with children similar to the ones I was hoping to adopt, was the best thing I ever did.

Most of these organisations cost about £20 a year to join. If you can't afford that TBH you can't afford to adopt , as one of you needs to stop work for at least a year ( probably more)

AngelsWithSilverWings · 11/02/2013 12:37

It may be worth checking with your SW as we were given free membership to Adoption Uk for two years after we were approved. Ended up having free membership for around four years in the end as we adopted a second time.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 11/02/2013 12:38

Sorry , should have made it clearer that it was my local authority who paid for the membership.

Original poster

Italiangreyhound · 11/02/2013 15:10

Thanks Angels.

Yes, good point Kristina, if it was only £20 but on the website it says Adoption UK is £81. I guess I might join Adoption UK but I feel just over £80 is a bit steep. Had a chat with someone and found out you can pay £52 per family and you get a magazine and other support (they seem to have some local groups). Or £81 per family (with children who wait magazine and online), or by direct debit £73.

BAAF individual membership is £75.50 for the first year. I also spoke to BAAF today and learnt that they are more for professionals and the theory of adoption rather than direct support for adopters. That seemed to be what they themselves were saying, which doesn?t apply to me as I wanted the direct support.

On the one hand I like the idea of supporting a charity which supports adoption but as you say Kristina I'll be giving up work etc for a bit. So maybe I need to be frugal.

So I guess it was really just to see how much use people found it, did anyone join a local group? Does anyone post on the adoption UK boards or read them? I have got into reading them of late. It's fascinating stuff and I feel could be useful.

Any thoughts welcome.

OP posts:

Lilka · 11/02/2013 15:32

I was an AUK member for some years but am no longer. I have read the boards for years and even posted way back in oh 2005, 2006? I can't quite remember, but back around that time anyway. I let my membership lapse because I was not really doing much with it, there weren't any meet up groups near me and I wasn't going on their courses or anything like that

AUK run support groups, parenting courses and conferences and things like that, so if that's the kind of thing you like the sound of, it might be worth it. Also, quite a lot of LA's will give you free membership for a year to three. But bear in mind you have to pay for the courses on top of membership fees

You don't need to be a member to join the message boards though, they are free to post on. You can access good stuff through there, they have their own chat room and yearly weekend camping meet ups etc which people seem to love

So I'd recommend AUK if anything and posting on the boards if you feel like it (I don't now for my own reasons, but it's a really great support for some people).

Original poster

Italiangreyhound · 11/02/2013 15:37

Thanks Likla it is all that that interests me but most of all the local support groups. Do you need to be a member to join those?

OP posts:

Maiyakat · 11/02/2013 18:21

If local groups are the most important thing, I'd check they have some near you before you join. There are no Adoption UK groups anywhere near me, and I really don't live in the back of beyond! I have been to one of their training days, which was excellent and a great place to meet other adopters.

Lilka · 11/02/2013 22:37

I think you do need to be a member to go the support groups run by AUK, yes. But as Maiya said, check where they are, there weren't any near enough me when I let my membership lapse, I don't know about now. I don't think you don't need to be a member to take part in things that are organised by forum members but not AUK

Kewcumber · 12/02/2013 13:46

check with your adoption team - our consortium run loads of post adoption courses, pre-school drop in sessions etc. I didn't really ever need to join any other organisations for local support. I did join (or set up!) organisations which were specific to our circumstances and also gravitated towards other adopters in nursery/school - yes bizarrely we managed to find each other despite not really discussing it at teh school gates!

Original poster

Italiangreyhound · 12/02/2013 19:56

Thanks Kew.

I guess I want to meet people now while I am getting used to the whole thing. I just wish we could (or rather me as DH not so keen to join a group just yet) and drink coffee and chat etc and meet some littlies and get used to it all!

OP posts:

hhhhhhh · 06/03/2013 18:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Domjolly · 06/03/2013 19:05

Everything not ture but you will have to consider espically if your going for a baby at matching stages you will be up agaisnt other adopters and most sw will lean towards a SHAM or a SHAD again if its between equal couple apart from full time vs part time its likey that will tip the balance

But we have been told alot of childrens sw will not even consider familes for a baby were one parent is planning to stay at home and to be honest for some children there is NO way they could handle a childminder let a lone a busy day nursey so you might want to consider that

Good luck

Happiestinwellybobs · 06/03/2013 19:23

Everything. We wanted a baby and all the way through home study our SW discussed me going back part time. At every point I stressed that I could not definitely assure her I would be able to do that (work would need to agree/finances) but did assure her that I knew my rights in terms of the right to request flexible working. I always said that I was looking to take at least 9 months off.

I did go back part time after 9 months and DD went to nursery. However it is not always this easy. We were matched with a baby who was very young and have not (yet anyway) faced attachment or other issues that would make nursery problematic. We know of other adoptive families where one parent has had to give up work in the best interests of their children.

Original poster

Italiangreyhound · 06/03/2013 22:20

EverythingsBeachy re time off work I think it all depends on different factors so not sure, best to ask. Our social worker seemed OK that I would, if we could, go back to work part time after adoption leave. We may well end up adopting a three year old or older so by the time i come off adoption leave they would be at school most likely. And I can just work school hours only, but depends what is best for child and family etc. Will see when we get to that stage.

OP posts:

aladdinsane · 06/04/2013 17:11

Our LA organises a group. We have family days, Xmas party, meal out, speakers
We joined our group before we adopted
Ask your SW if there is a group or if not could they set one up

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