Adoption Barometer 2026: adopted teenagers and young adults (UK)

Across the UK, 73 adopted young people aged between 16 and 25 gave their views on topics from education to identity. While this is a relatively small number, the data and comments tallied closely with the results of the previous year’s Adoption Barometer.

For too many, school was a very difficult experience and, while some found post-16 education a more positive experience, some were not able to access this at all. Most respondents had accessed CAMHS for mental health support, but very few felt that the support they received was adoption-competent, and most did not feel it made a significant positive difference to them overall. Identity as an adoptee was important to most, and the need for opportunities to spend time with other adoptees came up frequently in comments.

Mental health

40% of young adoptees who had accessed CAMHS agreed that CAMHS understood how being adopted might have affected them.

23% said that, overall, CAMHS support made a positive difference to them.

It wasn't easy to get support and there were waiting lists months long for help I needed straight away

I have been told by people that I should get help, but I never had the chance as I wouldn't know where to go.

Without constant support by my adoptive parents, I don't think I ever would have been able to get the support I needed.

It took me nine different professionals to refer me before I was assessed. My diagnosis of ASD took 12 years from first referral to diagnosis.

Education, training and work

36% said they struggled a lot at secondary school and found it difficult most of the time

49% said they needed a lot more support in school than their peers; 39% said they needed a lot more support during post-16 education than their peers

I feel that I was quite lucky to make it through school and to university with very few difficulties, but it wasn't easy. I wanted more support from specialists regarding wider participation support when applying to university.

I was bullied and the teachers did nothing because my adoption trauma is apparently something people find funny.

I found it really hard to access support. People thought that because I had good grades that I am ok. People here includes social workers and teachers and pastoral teams.

There should be more overt support for adopted young people my age. It should be compulsory for all teachers and teaching assistants to have training in trauma and neurodiversity.

Identity and belonging

54% of 16-25-year-olds do not feel they have all the information they need about their early lives or how they came to be adopted

Just 20% had been able to access peer groups or peer support for adoptees.

My friends at school had no understanding of adoption and this made me feel different.

Adoptees need more representation, and more places for us to go without having to be obviously different.

We need more people that are adopted that can help and support other adoptees like myself.

We need a local adoptee support group in every school and an adoptee only youth group for those who feel they are alone and different to everyone else.

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