West Yorkshire families urged to offer a ‘Welcome Home’ this National Adoption Week

STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01, MONDAY 20 OCTOBER 2025

One Adoption West Yorkshire, the regional adoption agency for all local councils in West Yorkshire is calling on local people to think about giving a child a “welcome home” this National Adoption Week (20–26 October).

This year’s campaign challenges the idea that adoptive families need to be “perfect” — showing instead that children waiting for adoption simply need a place where they are loved, safe, and belong.

A new You Can Adopt survey reveals that nationally, nearly nine in ten adoptive parents (86%) once worried they needed a “perfect home” to be approved. In reality, 41% had two bedrooms or fewer, 65% had no garden, and a quarter rented their home.

To launch the campaign, a unique immersive installation – A Welcome Home – is being unveiled in London on Monday and will visit Leeds Station on Tuesday. Co-created by adoptive families, the pop-up kitchen celebrates the joy and messiness of everyday family life.

 The installation, and campaign, are supported by The Great British Bake Off’s Prue Leith (adopter), Sort Your Life Out’s Dilly Carter (who was adopted), Love Island’s Sanam Harrinanan (an Adoption Social Worker) - as well as Oscar-winning author Charlie Mackesy.

Prue Leith, adoptive mother and grandmother to adopted children, helped to curate the installation and said: "When I adopted my daughter, it was in the kitchen that we bonded most, over meals, mess and everyday life. Now she's adopted children of her own – so I’m really pleased to have been a part of bringing ‘A Welcome Home’ to life. It’s about showing that - just like any kind of parenting - adoption is messy, joyful, challenging, real, and rewarding beyond measure. Adoption gives a child a place at the table, and that’s where love truly grows."

The cost-of-living crisis has made things tougher, with a 12% drop in new adopter registrations over the past year. That means more children are waiting longer - sometimes over 18 months - before being matched with a family.

One Adoption West Yorkshire is currently looking for families for over 100 children of all ages, of which over 40% are two years old or under.

Michelle Rawlings, Head of One Adoption West Yorkshire, said:
“We understand that many people worry that now isn’t the ‘perfect time’ to adopt for lots of reasons. But adoption isn’t about having the ideal circumstances or a picture-perfect home; it’s about being ready to open your heart and your home to a child who needs one.

“At One Adoption West Yorkshire, we’re here with you every step of the way, to guide, prepare and support you, and to help you decide if adoption is the right path for you. Adoptive homes come in all shapes and sizes, and every one has the potential to be the right one to provide somewhere a child can feel safe and welcomed. We’d love to hear from anyone thinking about finding out more.”

The You Can Adopt survey also revealed that prior to adopting, many parents had concerns about what they could offer a child. This included concerns about the size of their home (23 per cent) or having too low an income (21 per cent). This week’s campaign aims to dispel myths and reduce barriers to people considering adoption by highlighting real stories from adopted families.

As part of the campaign these Yorkshire families shared their stories with YouCanAdopt:

April, adoptive mother to two children:

"I used to think I had to wait for the perfect time, the perfect house, the perfect setup - but the truth is, love doesn’t wait. Alexander came into my life and filled it with colour, chaos, and more joy than I ever imagined. Whether we’re painting at the dining table or playing in Alexander’s miniature kitchen café, it’s the everyday moments that remind me we’re exactly where we’re meant to be."

Amanda, adoptive mother to two children:

“One of the traditions we started when Andraya was younger was baking red velvet cupcakes together, and now it’s become our little ritual - something we return to whenever we need a moment of calm or connection. These days, Isaac loves to join in too, usually stirring with one hand and sneaking icing with the other. It’s more than just cupcakes; it’s our way of checking in, laughing, and remembering how far we’ve come. That simple act, time and again, reminds me that love is built in the everyday moments – and those are the ones that truly matter.”

Emma & Mike, adoptive parents to two children:

“Adoption wasn’t our Plan B - it was our Plan A+. Every step, challenge, and moment of uncertainty brought us closer to our children - and now, we simply can’t imagine life without them. They’ve taught us more than we ever thought possible. We haven’t perfected parenthood - far from it - but we’re learning, growing, and laughing every day. Our home is certainly louder and messier than before, but it’s also full of life. We don’t feel like an adoptive family. We just feel like a family.”

Additional stories from local One Adoption adopters can be found on the One Adoption website: Can you offer a child a 'Welcome Home' this National Adoption Week | One Adoption

One Adoption West Yorkshire is hosting a pop-up information stall in Albion Street in Leeds city centre on Wednesday 22 October from 10 am until 3pm. People interested in finding out more about adoption can come along and speak to the friendly team.

For more information about adopting with One Adoption West Yorkshire people can visit www.oneadoption.co.uk or call 0113 3783535.