It is estimated that there may be as many as 5,000 children in the UK waiting for permanent new families

There are currently about 66,700 children looked after by local authorities in the UK, two-thirds of whom are in foster homes, but the vast majority - 70% of them will go back to live with their birth families. There are about 5000 children of all ages, mostly living in foster care, who sadly are unable to ever return home. These children do not have what most of us take for granted, a family they can call a ‘forever family’. 3,067 children were adopted from care in England last year but many of them had to wait months or even years to find a family. A further 5000 adoptive families are needed every year in order to match children with the adoptive parents they need.

For those who are the children who need foster care?
Most of the children looked after by local authorities when their own families are unable to care for them are placed in foster families. Families are unable to care for their children for a variety of reasons. Sometimes parents have poor physical or mental health and have to be hospitalised, or they may misuse drugs or alcohol and need help to overcome their addiction.
Children may have been neglected and they may also have been abused.

For more information:
BAAF Head Office Skyline House,
200 Union Street, London SE1 0LX.

Tel: 020 7593 2000,
Fax: 020 7593 2001,

Email: mail@baaf.org.uk,
website. www.baaf.org.uk

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