Adoption Today Welcome from Emily It’s Barometer time again, and we are pleased to be able to bring you the latest results from across the UK. Some of the very worrying trends we have seen over the last few years have begun to level off in most nations, but there are still a high proportion of families facing severe challenges, especially in the teenage years. In more positive news, a high proportion of families are feeling supported during the approvals process. Adoption UK is calling for a right to needs-led adoption support for all adoptees, alongside targeted packages of support for teenagers and adults. We also aim to grow the support we are able to offer families and adult adoptees at every stage of your journey. Thank you to all of you who took the time to complete the Barometer this year. As usual this issue of Adoption Today is chock full of hints and tips, from managing big feelings by using ‘calming stairs’ to coping with the summer holidays and the all too soon ‘back to school’ prep. We also have our usual focus on how to carve out some self-care amidst our busy lives. I hope you enjoy this issue and find it helpful, Emily Frith CEO, Adoption UK Please note the articles below are exclusively for AUK members. Become a member Features Adoption Barometer 2026 reveals continuing strain on families Waiting at the window: making sense of adoption, attachment and anxiety You listen to your child's story, but who listens to yours? ‘Adopters just get it’: inside the new Adopters Together peer support line Navigating contact in the age of social media Weekenders: building lifelong relationships with children in care When love is not enough - the experiences of families caring for children voluntarily accomodated away from home The Calming Stairs: a simple framework for big emotions News UK Government promises formal apology for historic forced adoptions Under-16s to be banned from social media CoramBAAF conference marks 100 years of adoption law Regulars The heart of the matter: summer holidays without the stress FASD and the brain: understanding the ‘can’t’ behind the behaviour The Refuelling Station: summer rituals for self-care Therapeutic parenting that works for us: a different approach to transitions Voluntary accommodation – what parents need to know auk updates Policy and public affairs Research AUK Talks Community groups and events Fundraising update Introducing Tom Gallagher Mitchell, Impact and Data Officer Podcast In this episode of Family Matters we speak with Dr Julie Elliott, Clinical Director of Adoption UK’s Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH), about what therapy really means for adoptive families, kinship carers, long-term foster carers, and adopted adults. Julie shares insights from her decades of experience, busts common therapy myths, and explains why effective support isn’t about fixing people – it’s about understanding. They discuss PATH’s unique approach, which blends clinical expertise with lived experience, and how early support can make a real difference. Find out more about PATH Useful Links Information and support serviceMembership areaCommunity groupsContact the editor Summer 2026 issue Spring 2026 issue Adoption Today archive Family membership area Adoption Today - Spring 2026 Welcome from Emily Welcome to our first ever digital issue of Adoption Today! We are moving with the times and linking our highly valued magazine more effectively with the full range of support we offer at Adoption UK. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to find out about all the support you’re entitled to as a member, including our community groups, training, online resources and virtual networks. You’ll find the same fantastic content- such as the Q and A with our PATH team about supporting adoptees to make contact with birth family. There is the latest news across the nations of the UK. We’re shining a spotlight on issues like post adoption depression. We curate expert advice from other organisations like the Belay Foundation. And we will still have tips on how to look after yourself when times are tough. I hope you enjoy reading this spring issue, Emily Frith CEO, Adoption UK Please note the articles below are exclusively for AUK members. Become a member Features Creating space to breathe: trauma responsive support for adoptive parents by The Belay Foundation The calm after the storm: parenting when the adrenaline fades Keeping brothers and sisters together: parenting adopted siblings Surviving post adoption depression: our family's journey through struggle and hope Ionica Adriana: my Romanian reunion Why childcare experience matters for prospective adopters Finding families for children with disabilities News New online platform to improve access to records for adopted and care-experienced people Department for Education launches adoption support consultation Virtual Memory Box opens to families across north-east England Scottish government announces £15m funding for projects supporting families and care-experienced children Regulars Therapeutic parenting that works for us: the tooth fairy The heart of the matter: making contact with birth family as an adult The refuelling station: simple self-care for spring Parenting from a distance The adoption bookshelf: Trauma Proof: Healing, Attachment and the Science of Prevention auk updates Policy and public affairs Research AUK Talks AUK community groups and events Fundraising that feels good: why the best challenges are about sharing the moment FASD Hub: turning understanding into meaningful support Introducing Ashley Ryan, volunteer support coordinator Podcast In this episode of Family Matters, James talks with Daf, the writer and creator of BBC’s Lost Boys & Fairies. Together they explore adoption and representation on screen, the inspiration behind Lost Boys & Fairies, and how stories like Doctor Who can help adoptees make sense of identity, belonging and loss. They also discuss the importance of authentic storytelling, community, and continued support for adopted people beyond childhood. Listen to more episodes Useful Links Information and support serviceMembership areaCommunity groupsContact the editor Manage Cookie Preferences