Consider adoption this Adoption Week - whatever your family make-up

Adoption week starts today (21 October) and Norfolk County Council is calling on people from all different backgrounds and family make-ups to consider becoming adoptive parents. 

People like Imogen, who is part of a family of four - none of whom are biologically related. She has an adopted son and a stepdaughter, who was conceived via a sperm donor. 

Imogen said: "I think everybody, who is in the position to, should consider adoption - and not as a last resort. 

"It will change your life and, more importantly, it will change their life forever. I've done a lot of great stuff with my life, but adopting, transforming a child's life, is easily the greatest thing I've ever been part of." 

Imogen said that her family shares an incredible bond and that her stepdaughter and son have an amazing relationship - that being blood relatives does not matter in creating a family.    

She added: "There's no greater challenge and no greater reward than adopting a child.   

 "Parenting any child can be tough, but adoption is the Olympics of parenting - it's a challenge like no other and all those who take part are pretty much rockstars." 

Imogen's story reflects the theme promoted as part of National Adoption Week this year, with a survey by You Can Adopt revealing that 68% of people in the East of England believe there is no such this as a "normal" family. 

The survey revealed that the vast majority of the public (89%) feel it's important to teach children that families come in all shapes and sizes, and that this promotes acceptance of children from non-traditional family units (54%). However, 50% of the public surveyed were not taught this themselves when growing up. 

Norfolk County Council is a proud partner of Adopt East, and this adoption week is looking for parents for 18 children in care waiting for their forever home. 

The council needs adopters for children of all ages and is particularly looking for adopters for brothers and sisters, toddlers and young children aged four and older, and children with disabilities. 

Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Norfolk County Council, said: "It is love and security that creates a family, rather than blood and genetics, and it is love and security that children in our care really need. 

"We have children who have had a very difficult starts to their lives who need a parent or parents that show them what family means. There is no doubt that adoption, like all parenting, can be challenging but it comes with support from our brilliant adoption team and it brings with it tremendous rewards." 

If you are interested in adopting visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/adoption or call 01603 638343.