Buckfast-based charity, Families for Children, is collaborating with other voluntary adoption agencies to highlight choice for prospective adoptive parents.

Families for Children is one of 12 adoption agencies taking part in the recently launched #AdopterChoice campaign.

Supported by the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) the campaign aims to raise awareness of the options available for anyone thinking about adopting a child or children.

People wishing to adopt can choose to apply through their local authority, a regional adoption agency or a voluntary adoption agency (VAA).

Voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) are independent, not-for-profit organisations which are smaller than most statutory agencies and offer a personalised service to adopters from all backgrounds.

VAAs work in partnership with local authorities and regional adoption agencies across the whole of the UK to find families for children in care who are unable to stay with their birth relatives.

As part of the #AdopterChoice campaign, adoptive parents have spoken of the reasons why they chose to adopt through a VAA.

Adoptive dad Tom said: “We looked around at a few different agencies, both local authority and voluntary agencies but it was from the voluntary agency that we got that sense of personalised support and the interest in us.

“It felt like our social worker was entirely in our corner and they didn’t have any agenda or priorities of their own, they were just solely focused on making the best match they could for both the children and also for us.”

Mum of one Zoe said: “A VAA is able to work with children from across the country because they aren’t bound like a local authority is for their region, so as a result, they were able to match me with my son. He was from a different area of the country, and it was a perfect fit.”

The CVAA champions and supports voluntary adoption agencies from across the UK, of which there are 36 in total.

CVAA CEO Maggie Jones said: “Voluntary Adoption agencies have the advantage of being rooted in their local community while also being able to search across the country to link children with the adoptive families which are best for them.

“VAAs are genuinely welcoming of adopters from all walks of life and offer really high-quality support for the whole of the adoption journey.”

Families for Children chief executive Ruth Marriott said: “Like all VAAs, we work to provide the best support for families and children in the South West.

“We place a high value on offering these children and families a lifetime relationship with ongoing support.

“We recognise the diverse society in which we live and seek to meet the complex needs of children, valuing and respecting their culture, identity and personal history.”

For more information about adopting with Families for Children visit www.familiesforchildren.org.uk or phone 01364 645480.