Could you help transform a child’s life? (From Redditch Advertiser)

Could you help transform a child’s life?

1:10pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in Local

RESIDENTS in Redditch are being asked to do something amazing and help transform a child’s life.

As part of National Adoption Week, which runs between November 5 and 11, Worcestershire County Council's adoption service is asking people to consider adopting.

The week is a national campaign, organised by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF).

Every year 4,000 children wait for adoption in the UK and there is a national shortage of potential adopters coming forward.

The situation across Worcestershire is no different and the adoption service hopes to address the shortage by recruiting 37 new families by the end of March 2013.

Marilyn Butler, the county council's operational manager for adoption, said: "Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to own your home, have a job or be under 40 to adopt a child.

“You don’t have to be married either, or in a relationship, or heterosexual.

“You don’t have to be a parent already or qualified in any specific way.

“We welcome a wide range of people from different backgrounds and experiences and there are no 'blanket' bans.”

She added: “Our key criteria are that you must be over 21, have patience, be flexible and energetic and have the determination and resilience to positively transform a child’s life."

An informal drop-in event is happening on Saturday, November 10 from 10am – 12noon at Redditch Library.

If anyone can’t make the date and is interested in adoption, they can find out more online at worcestershire.gov.uk/adoption.