THEY are the children without a family – all 90 of them.
The 90 are from across Huddersfield and Kirklees, waiting in foster care for someone to offer them a permanent home.
And with the number of adoptive parents being approved only at the rate of 25 to 30 a year, many of the youngsters could be waiting a long time.
And ahead of National Adoption Week, Kirklees Council is appealing for people to consider adopting the children.
Clr Cath Harris, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “It’s a sad fact that some children are simply unable to remain with their birth family, because of neglect, abuse or perhaps just because their parents are unable to cope.
“Adoption is one of the best ways to give these children a new family for life.”
The council doesn’t hold figures for how many people apply to adopt, but 30 applications were considered by the approval panel last year and 25 were approved.
The year before there were 23 people considered and 22 approved.
Kirklees says that adopters can be anyone over the age of 21, single – male or female, married, unmarried couples, same sex couples or divorced.
People can have children already or want a child for the first time, while the council says they will consider people of any religious faith or none at all.
Clr Harris added: “Children with lots of different types of early experiences may need adopting.
“Some of them have had traumatic experiences, others have learning difficulties or health problems and it’s crucial that loving and permanent families are found for them.
“There are no blanket rules in adoption. Don’t count yourself out because of age, marital status or sexuality.
“It doesn’t matter whether you own or rent your home, whether you work full time or not at all – we assess everyone on their own merits.
“What’s important is that we really need people who can offer a child or sibling group a loving and supportive family for life.”
The children currently in foster care are of all ages. Some have siblings who also need adopting with them and others have low level disabilities.
They are among the 4,000 children across the UK who need adoptive families.
National Adoption Week is organised by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering and aims to raise awareness of adoption and encourage potential parents to come forward.
If you can become a forever family for one of the 90 children go along to an informal session at The George Hotel, St George’s Square, Huddersfield, on Wednesday, November 21, any time between 4pm and 7pm.
Members of the adoption team will be there along with local adopters who have been through the process.
Find out more by visiting: www.kirklees.gov.uk/adoption or calling the council on 01924 483707.
