This week is National Adoption Week 2016 and adoption charity Coram is calling for more to be done to give in-care children a stable home.
The latest Government figures show that the number of cared for children in England has risen each year from 2008.
Despite this, the number of children being adopted from care in the last year has fallen 12 per cent.
In even the one to four age group, which makes up 72 per cent of all adopted children, there were 17 per cent fewer adoptions.
The charity’s chairman Dr Carol Homden, said, she was ‘concerned’ by the rates, ‘particularly within in the younger age group’.
‘These early years, especially ages 0-3 are critical for physical and emotional development,’ said Dr Homden.
‘Therefore the earlier that young vulnerable children who cannot return to their birth families can be provided with love and security the better the long-term outcomes across all aspects of their lives.’
She added, ‘We urge people to consider adopting to create safe, secure and permanent loving families for children. Coram runs one of the UK’s most successful independent adoption services, with teams throughout London, the East Midlands and Cambridgeshire, so we’d encourage anyone interested in adoption in these areas to get in touch to find out more.’
The campaign, organised by First4Adoption and running 17-23 October, also reveals that nearly three-quarters of people in England have an adoption connection, knowing a friend, colleague or neighbour who is touched by it in some way.
Coram is highlighting the lifelong support it provides for families who adopt through its services.
This includes support throughout the adoption process, parenting suppoort, and creative therapies.
Coram has also been shortlisted in two categories in the National Adoption Week Awards taking place tomorrow (18 October).
Follow the campaign on social media using the hashtag #SupportAdoption.