Children with Additional Needs – VAA Campaign 2024

Voluntary Adoption Agencies across the UK have joined forces to find more adoptive parents for children with additional needs who are waiting for a family.

Children with additional needs wait an average of 11 months longer* in care than their peers and voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) are urgently looking for people who can offer them a permanent and loving home.

CCS Adoption is among 21 VAAs from all over the UK who have together created a guide for people considering adoption containing helpful information and advice from parents who have already adopted children with additional needs.

VAAs are specialists in finding families for children who wait the longest in care. They work in partnership with regional adoption agencies and local authorities to find families for children waiting for a permanent home.

VAAs are independent, not-for-profit organisations that have intensive services to provide families with vital support both when the children are placed and into the future.

Download a copy of the advice guide here:

Advice Guide

About the CVAA

CVAA is a membership organisation. It was founded in 1993 to represent the interests of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (VAAs).

CVAA’s vision is for adopted children, young people and adults to lead happy fulfilling lives in loving families supported by a strong voluntary adoption sector. CVAA’s role in achieving this vision is to champion and support VAAs in their life-changing work. We are wholly committed to adopter choice and the vital contribution of a thriving VAA sector, able to provide the best possible support for birth and adoptive families in their lifelong adoption journeys.

Satwinder Sandhu, Chief Executive of the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) which represents VAAs across the country said:

“We are so grateful to the adoptive parents who have contributed to this new CVAA advice guide to share their personal experiences of the reality of adopting a child with additional needs.

“What is clear from their advice is that there may be challenges but they are far outweighed by pride, joy and love. And so prospective adopters should not rule themselves out of being able to achieve the same in their own families.

“The voluntary adoption sector are specialists in finding families for children who wait the longest to be adopted and being there for them with bespoke, lifelong packages of support.”

If you are thinking about adoption then join us at one of our regular online adoption information events to learn more about adoption, the children and us.

Information Events

* The latest data shows in 2022/2023, there were 2110 children waiting to be adopted from care (YouCanAdopt).