Adopting in Waltham Forest

If you want to transform a child’s life through adoption, we are here to help. If you’re aged 21 or over and can offer a child love and support in a stable and nurturing home, you can apply to adopt.

In Waltham Forest, there are children of different ages and sibling groups from many different backgrounds who need homes.

Coram accepts applications from single people, married and civil partnership couples, and unmarried couples, regardless of sexuality. You can own or rent your home. As long as there is space for a child to have a room of their own. You do not have to be in employment and can be from any borough, not only Waltham Forest. You can have any cultural or religious background.

Qualities 

To become an adoptive parent you will need:

• patience
• humour
• energy
• determination

If you are thinking about adoption, start by visiting Coram's dedicated website. You’ll find lots of information about all aspects of adopting a child, including videos and interviews with adopters.

There are details of our latest adoption events which are a great way to find out more about the process. You can also find out how our friendly team can help you start your adoption journey.

Visit the Coram Ambitious for Adoption website to learn more.

If you have particular questions relating to your own circumstances, email adoption@coram.org.uk or call 020 7520 0383.

Support is available for all adoptive families. You must live in or have adopted children placed by Waltham Forest Council in the last three years. We can offer:

• general advice, support and guidance on accessing universal services for adoptive families in the borough.
• Some adoptive children will have experienced early life trauma, or need support in understanding their life story. Some adoptive parents will need additional therapeutic support to meet the needs of their children. We can make applications on your behalf for funding for therapeutic services for your family. This would be through an adoption support needs assessment. More information about the Adoption Support Fund is  available on the First 4 Adoption website
• We can refer adoptive parents for parental counselling sessions with our partner PAC-UK
• We can offer you training opportunities if you sign up to our mailing list

Email adoption@walthamforest.gov.uk for more details.

There are also lots of universal services available for all families that reside in Waltham Forest:

• Childcare and Early Years: search for childcare and get help with childcare costs
• Children and Family Hubs: activities, services and support for families with children under five.
• Early Help and Parenting: one to one family and parenting support in the home
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND): support and activities for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
• Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): if you need help caring for or worried about the welfare of a child 
• Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG): support for families affected by domestic abuse is available
• Adult Learning Service: work, training, skills, and learning English
• Benefits and money advice: see what financial support is available to you

We can help adopted adults (over 18 years old) who now reside in Waltham Forest access their adoption records. It can help you know more about your early life and the reasons you came into care. It will also give information on the circumstances around your adoption.

Contact adoption@walthamforest.gov.uk if you believe you were adopted by Waltham Forest Council. We can advise you on where to contact to access your adoption records if you wold like to see them.

Family Connect can help you make a decision and prepare for finding out more about your adoption records. It can also support with maybe tracing your birth family.

More information about accessing your birth records is also on the Government website under Adoption Records.

If you are interested in adopting a child from abroad, please visit the Coram IAC website. Regional Adoption Agency do not assess adopters to adopt internationally.

If you have already adopted a child from abroad, you may be entitled to support. Please email adoption@walthamforest.gov.uk for more information.

PAC-UK offers advice and counselling in various areas:

• if you need to talk to someone about your adoption loss,
• access to short-term counselling
• information about the adoption process
• connecting with other birth parents

You are entitled to advice and counselling if you are a birth parent involved in court proceedings and worried you might lose your child to adoption. Please email adoption@walthamforest.gov.uk if you would like more information.

PAC-UK also has an advice line you can call for specialist advice on all aspects of adoption.

Call the London office Advice Line on 020 7284 5879. Lines are open Monday, Tuesday and Friday 10am to 4pm and Wednesday and Thursday 2pm to 7.30pm