Adoption Barometer 2026: adult adoptees Confidence in the services for adult adoptees who wish to access their records and trace or connect with birth relatives remains very low. However, there are some small signs that those who have accessed these services most recently have had better experiences than those who accessed them longer ago. Access to adoptee-competent therapeutic and mental health support remains a challenge for the overwhelming majority of adult adoptees and many are not able to access formal or informal peer support networks. 38% feel confident that suitable, professional support would be available when obtaining personal, historical records from the relevant authorities. 43% would feel confident approaching professional services for support with tracing or reconnecting with birth relatives. 27% know where to access counselling, therapeutic services and mental health support that is attuned their needs as an adopted person. 14% feel confident that a range of appropriate therapeutic services are available to them as an adopted person. 48% feel confident that they can access formal and informal peer support networks if they wish to do so. What is going well? “In 2025, I have used government funding (as I was adopted before 1976) to work with an intermediary to make contact with my birth mother . . . the experience has been very positive. I have felt supported, with good communication and video meetings with my intermediary.” “Adoption services are working with adoptees to shape policy and practice but this needs to be standardised and national rather than a postcode lottery.” “I think there is more recognition now about adoption trauma.” “Support for adult adoptees is slightly better than it was, but only because we have organised ourselves, created some peer support options and started to make some noise about our needs.” “Online support groups have provided a much-needed space for seeking help, advice and support.” What could be improved? “Please, please, give adoptees over 25 more support . . . I find it heartbreaking that so, so many adoptees cannot afford private therapy and so they are left to use inadequate/non-tailored or, often, non-existent government support.” “Adult adoptees need improved access to NHS trauma-informed mental health pathways and a single point of access to adoption records.” “Legal protection for the storage, protection and release of all adoptee records.” “We need easier access to health information and general information about our adoptions and birth families.” Accessing records Among those who had ever accessed or attempted to access records relating to their early lives or adoption, only 29% said the process was easy to access, and just 40% said they felt well supported through the process. “There is too much delay within social care services when accessing records. There should be set response times following initial requests for access to files.” However, among those who accessed their records within the past five years, 48% felt well supported, compared to just 33% of those who accessed their records more than five years ago. This suggests that there may have been some limited improvements in the support available for adoptees, but there was no improvement in how easy respondents had found the process. “Access to records should not be through children’s services – third sector organisations should be commissioned by central government to provide this service and act as intermediary agencies to all adult adoptees and provide peer support opportunities. It is not ok for adopted people to have to rely upon the agencies who arranged their adoptions for support as adults or to have to compete for scarce resources with children and families.” Tracing and reconnecting with birth relatives Most respondents (57%) said they did not feel confident approaching professional services for help with tracing and reconnecting with birth relatives, and two thirds said that the financial costs involved were a barrier to the process. Those who had used professional services for help with tracing birth relatives within the past five years were slightly more likely to say they felt confident approaching those services (52%) than those who had done so more than five years ago (42%). However, they were also more likely to say that financial costs were a barrier. “We need free access to tracing and reunion intermediaries.” “I feel there needs to be more support for those tracing their family as it can be a very difficult time, especially with learning information that may be difficult to digest.” Therapeutic, mental health and peer support It was very common for respondents to have sought support for their mental health. 71% had accessed professional mental health support either through the NHS or another provider. “I think when an adoptee is able to begin to talk about their thoughts, they should have access to therapy and counselling for as long as they need it.” However, most respondents had been unable to find adoptee-competent specialists to support their mental health or wellbeing. Confidence in the range and suitability of services was lower among respondents this year than last year, and improvements seen in Adoption Barometer data from England after the removal of the requirement for providers to be Ofsted registered have not been sustained. “Adoptees need proper, trauma-informed, attachment-based counselling. Adoptees are being misdiagnosed because major attachment ruptures early in life are not being acknowledged.” “Trauma counselling should be available on the NHS for adoptees. Mental health services . . . have no clue how to deal with adoptees.” Although peer support would be welcomed by most, fewer than half of respondents felt confident that they could access this. “We need more adult adoptee support groups, either in person or online.” “Privately run adoptee support groups are very helpful, positive and have been life changing for me personally.” Our recommendations Back to Adoption Barometer 2026 overview Manage Cookie Preferences