Podcasts about adoption uk

The Promise is that Scotland's children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected. This episode dives into how Fraser, his team and partners are delivering on that. We explore resilience, expectations and more.Fraser has been Chief Executive of The Promise Scotland since September 2022. Prior to that, he spent 16 years working for Audit Scotland, including ten years as Controller of Audit and Director of Performance Audit and Best Value.Before joining Audit Scotland, Fraser was a public services consultant in Edinburgh and London. He specialised in leadership, change management, facilitation and process improvement.Fraser is committed to systems change, focusing on how public money is spent more effectively to enable better lives for children, young people, care experienced adults, families, and communities.Here's the link to Adoption UK's Barometer https://www.adoptionuk.org/news/record-crisis-levels-for-adopted-peopleMore at:https://thepromise.scot/https://www.facebook.com/ThePromiseScotland/https://x.com/thepromisescothttps://www.instagram.com/thepromisescotland/https://www.youtube.com/@thepromisescotland617https://www.linkedin.com/in/fraser-mckinlay-b2b48122  Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Hello and Welcome to this Episode, It's always a pleasure to have Adoption UK's Becky Brooks onto the podcast. Becky is an adoptive parent, former foster care, author and self confessed policy and statistics Nerd.  Adoption UK's Adoption Barometer is open til the 17th Feb and is a tool that informs policy makers and gives real data to the lived experience of adoptees and adopters' families. We unpick some of the reasoning behind the questions and why only 16 to 25 year old adoptees are polled.  We get of course chat about much more, hoovers, jeans and law and as always Becky's experience, knowledge and humour make it a Bantertastic episode.  As always if you've experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Welcome back for Season 2! Please rate us 5 stars if you love the show and hit that follow button. This season we will cover even more aspects of adoption and will be joined by professionals to help us unpack the more complex parts of the process and beyond. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for more Two Dad content @my.2.dads.and.meAndi's Instagram is @daddy_n_daddaThis episode we catch up from the summer break, and cover resources that we recommend for your journey! books Adopting a child: the definitive guide to adoption by Jenifer LordFoetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Parenting a Child with an Invisible Disability - Julie BrownMeant to be - Lisa faulkner - ivf and adoption • a-z of therapeutic parenting - Sarah naish • FFA - Alice Hill• pink guide to adoption - Nicola HillChildren's BooksDelly duck - Holly Marlow Blanket bears - samuel Langley Tv shows Trying - Apple TV Lost Boys and Fairies - BBC  Websitesnaotp.com - national association of therapeutic parents You can adoptGov.ukIt's important to remember all views are our own and based on our own experiences. Grab a coffee and join us for our premiere of season 2!Send us a textDon't wake the baby!Unwind to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy craftingListen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

In this bonus episode Sam goes through what has been mentioned in the parties manifestos relating the children with SEN. Sources for this episode are BBC News, Sky News, Youth Sport Trust, Twinkl and Gov.UKAll views and opinions are my own and there may be some parts of manifestos i have missed, however i have tried to be as factual as possible and have given everything i could find. With 3 days still to go more information may come out between now and the general electionSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.

In this weeks episode Sam, Paul and Andi answer listener questions around adoption and the process. What is it like going from stage 1 to stage 2?What is solo parenting like?Why adoption over surrogacy? Don forget you can also get in touch on our Instagram My.2.Dads.and.Me or via the text us link below. Things we mentioned this week are:The Modern Family Show: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-modern-family-show-london-2024-tickets-726689125737?discount=ADVOCATEANDIAnna Kennedy Charity: Anna Kennedy OBE – Anna Kennedy OnlineRent, the musical: Rent The Musical | (rent-themusical.co.uk)Chants of Sennaar: Save 25% on Chants of Sennaar on Steam (steampowered.com)Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.

We are BACK! After a little break we are back, with a new format, new segments and raw adoption conversation. You will hear why we had to take a break, hear from the creator of Lost Boys and Fairies on BBC (Daf James), Andi has adopted again, we celebrate pride month, we hear from Sam and Paul's son and discuss The Truth of what adoption is really like.You can also WIN a free T-shirt, Text us, and support Andi's daughter in achieving her goal! Links:Fundraiser by Andi Ellis : Please sponsor Lucy! (gofundme.com)BBC iPlayer - Lost Boys and FairiesThe Price of Paradise | Wondery | Premium Podcasts Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network.  Well, just before we pressed record an election was announced in the UK in what was pretty poor timing for Adoption UK and their Barometer. We unpick both things and consider the impact of a change of government on the landscape as well as reflect on the release of the Barometer and the finding it highlights this year. You can read the Barometer here. We also discuss touch on the recent speech by Sir Andrew McFarlane at the recent potato conference. You can read that here.  Here's the link for the event Scott is doing in with Dads and Barnardos Ireland.   As always if you've experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here

In an era fuelled by the promise of AI, the UK public sector stands at the cusp of transformation. Embracing the hype surrounding AI, government leaders navigate the delicate balance between innovation and risk. While the potential benefits are tantalising, the path forward requires a nuanced approach, considering factors like organisational culture, digital maturity, and the ever-present spectre of unintended consequences. Mike Hill, Chief Data & Information Officer with the UK Cabinet Office discusses how the UK government aims to unlock AI's full potential to revolutionise public services and citizen outcomes. For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co  

This week we are joined by the wonderful Craig and Dan from @Craigshomelife on instagram to relive their adoption story. We discuss their recent wedding, relinquishment, and how they became a family. Links discussed in the episode: Relinquished Children (proceduresonline.com) guide_relat_ch_relinq_adopt.pdf (proceduresonline.com)guidance-ace-practice-guidance-relinquished-babies-final.pdf (proceduresonline.com)The book that is mentioned is Our Adoption Story by Jayne LilleySupport the show

This episode Sam, Paul and Andi discuss common Adoption Stigmas, Inappropriate Questions, and Stay at Home Dad Life. We also answer listener questions and explain why we have been away!This Episode is sponsored by Autism Allotments, who can be found on Instagram at Autism.AllotmentsGrandads Camper can be found here: Grandad's Camper: A picture book for children that celebrates LGBTQIA+ families : Woodgate, Harry: Amazon.co.uk: BooksSupport the show

Sam and Paul are joined by Abbey, a Mum via Solo Adoption. Hear how fertility treatment paved the way to a magical adoption story.We discuss what the process felt like alone, what support was in place, and how it feels to be a Mum. Abbey's unfiltered passion and positivity alongside Sam and Paul creates one of the most important episodes of My Two Dads to date. Support the show

In this episode Sam and Paul are joined by Andi to discussed support networks, and how they have, or haven't changed since placement. We have our most heated response to a question yet, and Sam gets hit in the face by a microphone!We discuss:Trying on Apple TVDirty Laundry by Richard Pink and Roxanne EmerySensory toys at WHSmithsSupport the show

In this episode we discuss what happens after placement and before adoption court order. Do social workers disappear?When do you apply for a court order?How do you manage relationships with Foster Families?Contact? Dazzling Diamonds - Home | The Dazzling Diamonds (dazzlingdiamondshow.com)https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwvL4a8tHuY/?igsh=bG5sYzI3ZGo2bXczSupport the show

Welcome to 2024! In this massive two-parter episode Sam and Paul are joined by Andi to discuss Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave and Transitions. When do you take adoption leave? Are there any benefits to help? What made Paul cry? We answer listener questions as well as delving into our emotional memories. Find out in Part 1 of this double episode! We also mention @Notafictionalmum on intagram Support the show

Welcome to 2024! In this massive two-parter episode Sam and Paul are joined by Andi to discuss Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave and Transitions. When do you start preparing your home for transitions? How does it feel seeing them for the first time? First time meeting foster family?We answer listener questions as well as delving into our emotional memories. Find out in Part 2 of this double episode! We also mention Ready Eddie Go, and author Nikki Saunders Eddie's Colourful Feelings (The Eddie Series) https://amzn.eu/d/5Y7dFm8 Support the show

Jan shares her experience of adoption with Sue Hughes, assessment services & permanency director. Jan was the first child Family Futures placed through iAdopt. She was matched with her adoptive mum at six years old after a previous adoption breakdown. Sue has been part of the team supporting Jan and her mum for the last 14 years. Jan talks about her mixed feelings of loss and confusion, moving from birth family, to foster family, to adopted family, and how integral patience and support was from her mum, and for her mum. Adoption UK's helpline is specifically for adoptees, adopters, kinship carers and their support network. You can call them Monday to Friday, 10am to 2.30pm on 0300 666 0006. SHOUT also offers text support 7 days a week, 24/7 for anyone is who is struggling to cope. Just text SHOUT to 85258.     #TheFFPod aims to amplify, educate and inform. Subscribe on Spotify to listen to our series, Real Life Stories, which amplifies voices in adoption and fostering.  Family Futures is a not for profit, independent adoption and fostering agency in London, rated Ofsted Outstanding, and a leading provider of therapeutic support for families. Find out more about Family Futures at ⁠www.familyfutures.co.uk⁠ Please note that the views expressed in this podcast series are the views of our guest speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Family Futures. Created and produced by Charlotte Mumford

BEFORE YOU LISTEN: This episode contains discussions of Significant Loss, Drug Abuse and Mental Health. In this phenomenal episode Sam and Paul are joined by Devin, an adoptive father to two children, and adoption advocate. Devin openly and honestly relives his families EP Loss, discuss what life is like for a parent of a S.E.N.D child on a daily basis and how it feels to have to fight professionals for what is right. You can find Devin on his Instagram @DaddyLifeLondonSupport the show

In this episode Sam, Paul and Andi talk about how it felt experiencing big holidays while going through the adoption process, preparing a SEN or adopted child for Christmas and other big events like Easter, Thanksgiving and Halloween. We also play a round of Keep, Regift, Bin, get Andi's LIVE reaction to the John Lewis 2023 Christmas advert and how educational settings can help on the lead up to big events. Follow us in instagram @my.2.dads.and.me & @daddy_n_daddy Stella brings the Family:  https://amzn.eu/d/1J77lhCBorn Anxious @bornanxious on instagram Support the show

Sam, Paul and Andi relive Adoption Matching Panel, discuss the impact of social media, and discover that Paul has the perfect voice. Support the show

This very special episode of The Family Futures Podcast was recorded live at our 25th anniversary conference, Contact in Context. You will hear a few bleeps censoring names and locations. This is to protect the speakers and their families.    The discussion is facilitated by Sue Hughes, Assessment Services & Permanency Director at Family Futures. Our expert by experience guests: Alison (adoptive parent), Daniel (Adoptee), Helen (adoptive parent), Julia (adoptee), Matt (adoptive parent) and Michelle (special guardian), reflect on their experience of contact with birth family members, respond to questions from our virtual audience and reflect on the morning's talks.  Conference ticket holders can access all content from the day until the 18th of January 2024. If you missed the live event, you can buy your ticket now and re-watch the talks as well as accessing the conference resources including a free copy of our good practice guide, a framework for contact.    Visit www.familyfutures.co.uk for more information.   #TheFFPod #TheFFFConference23 #HelpingFamiliesHeal     *Trigger warning* this podcast contains a reference to suicidal ideation. Some of the content in this podcast may be upsetting for listeners. If you are affected by any of the topics or content discussed, please talk to someone for support.  Adoption UK's helpline is specifically for adoptees, adopters, kinship carers and their support network. You can call them Monday to Friday, 10am to 2.30pm on 0300 666 0006. SHOUT also offers text support 7 days a week, 24/7 for anyone is who is struggling to cope. Just text SHOUT to 85258.  

Award winning author Holly Marlow joins Sam and Paul to share her family finding story with us as we explore every step of the family finding process. Sam and Paul relive their own ups and downs while family finding and discuss Holly's incredible work. Holly's instagram is @HollyMarlowAuthor Her Amazon Store is https://smile.amazon.co.uk/holly-marlow/e/B099V6HQ1KWe also discuss Trying on Apple TVSupport the show

Sam and Paul are joined by Adoption Mentor Liz. Liz is a registered social worker with 18 years experience, and gives us a full run down of what to expect at approval panel. This episode is a MUST listen for anyone facing approval panel.You can find Liz's instagram at @Adoptionmentorliz Support the show

Bonus episode featuring Sam, Paul and Andi for National Adoption Week. We listen to your voice notes!Voice notes from:@AdoptionFocus @Craigshomelife@DaddylifeLondon@TheModernFamilyShow@abbie_elizabethhh@thewhimsicalcloud@sendreformengland@MattzsnapzSupport the show

Trailer for My Two Dads: The Adoption Podcast. Follow the show as we relive our adoption process, stage one, stage two, PAR, Approval Panel,  Family Finding, Matching and so much more. Joined by guests every fortnight, plus additional bonus episodes! An adoption podcast, made by adopters. Support the show

Dilly Carter is an expert in decluttering who presents the TV show 'Sort Your LIfe Out' alongside Stacey Solomon. Born in Sri Lanka, she was adopted and then brought up in the UK, and is very positive about the cards she was dealt. However, her childhood home was chaotic, with her parents at work all hours, and when Dilly was 11 her mum was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. During her childhood Dilly found peace when she frequently spent time at a neighbour's more ordered home. It was also at this point that she discovered her love of tidying and organising people's houses.Dilly has a 9 year old daughter who also sounds incredibly tidy and organised and she and Dilly operate on a one thing in, one thing out policy in her bedroom, so it never becomes cluttered.Following her recent cancer diagnosis, and a subsequent hysterectomy, Dilly is keen to encourage people with busy working lives like her, to prioritise their health. She is also an ambassador for Adoption UK.As you will hear, Dilly is a very positive person. I was worried she'd be traumatised by visiting my house which is brimming with objects and knick-knacks, but she was very kind about it. She clearly suspects I have too many clothes - but I haven't let her look in my wardrobe yet!Spinning Plates is presented by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Claire Jones and post-production by Richard Jones Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Sam and Paul are joined by Andi to relive Stage 2 and Panel. With nothing held back they delve into adoption approval panel, stage two assessments and reading the PAR!PLEASE NOTE: We do discuss mental health and abuse but do not go into detail. As usual, you can follow us on Instagram at my.2.dads.and.me and Andi's instagram us Dadda_n_Daddy We also discuss The Modern Family Show: http://www.themodernfamilyshow.com/CATCH: https://www.catchconnect.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjw4P6oBhBsEiwAKYVkq2HvubPz-KSnaYbeeZ0TzWkXlhlK1pSwL2l1jCVDQ5x1kO-4nah01hoCY3UQAvD_BwEPlease do forget to leave a review!Support the show

In this episode Sam and Paul are joined by Great British Bake Off finalist Christine Wallace. They discuss everything involved in stage one of the adoption process, a significant loss, bullying and how that can impact the process. Christine gives a detailed account of family references and the impact going through the process had on Sam and Paul. Our Instagram: @my.2.dads.and.meDidcot Events: Didcotevents – Bringing Didcot to LifeTrying on Apple TVSupport the show

In this episode we discuss the adoption process, focusing on Pre-Stage One with the wonderful Andi from Dadda_n_Daddy on Instagram. What subscription did Paul have that he was worried about? What brought us to adoption?In this Episode we discussed the following accounts:New Family Social New Family Social - HomeInstagram for Dadda_n_Daddy Dadda n Daddy (by Andi)

In anticipation of our premier episode airing next week, we thought we would give you a little more information about us, our adoption journey, and what is to come on My Two DadsSupport the show

Teaser for the brand new adoption focused podcast hosted by Sam and Paul from My.2.Dads.and.Me on Instagram!Support the show

Hello and welcome to this episodes of the A&F podcast, we are rather pleased to have AUK's Becky Brooks on with us. She's a long time friend of the show and hugely knowledgeable around all things adoption.  We start with a catch up and general infobanz then dive into the joys of homeschooling, airfryers and he social media platform formally known as Twitter. Of course, we also unpack the Adoption UK 2023 Barometer and all the info around that as well as looking at it as a body of work and where it goes next. We do enjoy our chat and Becky is a great guest and knows her stuff.  As always if you've experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here

Hello and welcome to this podcast special, Scott attended the launch of Adoption UK's Annual Barometer report in Westminster this week and in this episode he talks us through the day and his reflections on it. Speakers included Emily Frith, CEO of Adoption UK, Ed Timpson MP, Claire Coutinho MP and Childrens Minister, Helen Hayes MP and Shadow Childrens Minister as well as Sally Donovan and the adopted adults panel. The Barometer report is available here and is available as the full report or in an Executive Summary. Scott doesn't cover the report findings in any great detail – you can find that above, however, he does pick out some of his reflections from the Speakers. Safe to say that the adopted adults panel discussions were honest, open and raw given their experiences of supports as they transitioned through teenage year and into adulthood.   We will be welcoming Becky Brookes (friend of the show) soon to discuss the content of the Barometer report very soon. As always if you've experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here

According to a new report from Adoption UK nearly half of families with adopted children aged 13 to 25 say they are at ‘crisis point' or ‘facing severe challenges'. Author, Becky Brooks, discusses her report alongside Clare, a parent of adopted children. Indian women wrestlers have been living on the streets of Delhi in protest after they accused their sport's federation's top official of sexual harassment and abuse. There is just three months until the World Championships and the Asian Games when ordinarily these women would be focussed on intense training. Nuala discusses the situation with Divya Arya, Women's Affairs Journalist at BBC Delhi. A new production of Rigoletto opens next week at Opera Holland Park. Described as “a propulsive tragedy of toxic masculinity and unfettered power”, the director, Cecilia Stinton, explains why she has set it in an Oxbridge-style college post World War I, and the relevance of the story to a modern audience. The soprano, Alison Langer, who plays the role of Gilda, also joins Nuala and performs live in the studio. New research has found that women are twice as likely to die within 30 days of a heart attack compared with men. To explore why women continue to appear more vulnerable after having a heart attack Nuala is joined by consultant cardiologist Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan. The Happy Couple is the second novel by the acclaimed Irish novelist Naoise Dolan, whose debut Exciting Times was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. It follows a young couple, Celine and Luke, in the run-up to their wedding and explores the creeping doubts they have about each other, marriage and monogamy. Naoise joins Nuala in the studio. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast, in this episode we speak for the first time to the new CEO of Adoption UK Emily Frith. Emily has been in post since late 2022 and we took time to catch up with her in relation to her plans, vision and hopes for AUK given the changing political and policy landscape. As always there's a little banter as well and we ask questions across a range of issues that impacts is relevant to the community at the moment. On another note, if you've experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here

As part of my work with Adoption UK, we have explored Post Placement Blues and how many people have experienced this. It was a really interesting piece of work and has shone a light on some really important factors.     

In this episode, Ladey Adey talks with Sarah McGeough author of Eddy Finds a Family and Eddy feels at Home.Sarah lives on the South Coast with her husband and adoptive son. She is a successful self-published author, a qualified personal performance coach and loves to help new writers ‘release their inner author' through her book coaching. Sarah wants to make a difference. Her tenacity, drive, and passion ensure that she is a driving force that helps children and parents understand the sensitive subject of adoption.The Flamingo Family was created with a vision to be engaging, with vibrant characters that help support adoptive families, so that fostering, and adoption can be discussed more openly with young children.Eddy Finds a Family and Eddy Feels at Home are the first two books in The Flamingo Family book series, which bring to life the important and emotional journey of adoption in a colourful, uplifting, and honest way.Sarah was delighted to get reviews on both books from Adoption UK and an endorsement for her second. Dr Sue Armstrong-Brown, CEO of Adoption UK, wrote these reviews for each book.Eddy Finds a Family "This heart-warming story gently explores the path to adoption for both parents and children. Told through a colourful set of characters, this simple narrative will help a child identify and express their thoughts and feelings about their own adoption journey"Eddy Feels at Home “So many people will recognise the huge mix of emotions Eddy Emu feels as he moves in with his new family. The latest story about Eddy's journey helps to understand and explain the ups and downs in the early stages of adoption”.Sarah also offers free short stories via her websitewww.theflamingofamily.co.uk which follows Eddy Emu on new and exciting adventures as he continues his adoption journey with Flossy and Frank Flamingo.So next time you see a Flamingo - think Adoption and of Sarah!Sarah's favourite quote: “All our dreams can come true if we have the courageto pursue them” – Walt DisneySarah's Top tip: Find someone to be accountable too who will help you write and also plan in time to write.Useful linksGuest: Sarah McGeoughWebsite: http://www.theflamingofamily.co.uk/Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eddy-Finds-Family-Sarah-McGeough/dp/1838276742/ Social media: https://twitter.com/flamingo_familyhttps://www.facebook.com/theflamingofamilybook/ Ladey Adey: https://www.ladeyadey.com/ Book Academy: https://www.ladeyadey.com/the-book-academy/ Vicky Galbraith - Podcast VA: www.podcastva.co.uk Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/ladeyadeyshow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we hear from Daniel, an adult adoptee aged 36, who is a previous service user at Family Futures. Daniel discusses his early experiences of trauma and abuse, his life in care and as an adoptee, and how his adoptive parents and the long-term therapeutic support he received have helped him heal over time. Daniel shares words of encouragement here for others struggling with the impact of difficult childhood experiences. We hope you will share this episode with others who will find his words helpful and inspiring in their lives. Daniel is interviewed by fellow adoptee Alan Burnell OBE, co-founder of Family Futures.  Content warning: Some of the topics and experiences shared by Daniel may be upsetting for some listeners. If you are affected by what you have heard in this episode and would like to speak to someone for support, you can contact the Family Futures helpline on 020 7354 4161 or Adoption UK's helpline: 0300 666 0006 / helpline@adoptionuk.org.uk Please note that the views expressed in this podcast series are the views of our guest speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Family Futures. #FamilyFuturesPodcast aims to amplify, educate and inform. Subscribe on Spotify or other podcast platforms to listen to our series, Real Life Stories, which amplifies voices in adoption and fostering. Family Futures is a not for profit, independent adoption and fostering agency in London, rated Ofsted Outstanding, and a leading provider of therapeutic support for families. Find out more about Family Futures at www.familyfutures.co.uk Created and produced by Charlotte Mumford

Damian Kerlin is a UK LGBT+ blogger bringing you the latest news, campaigns and discussions told through his lived experience as a gay adoptive parent. He has written articles for Gay Boy Bible, Adoption UK and Adoption Wales, and has been featured on The Adoption and Fostering Podcast. His word of the day is FAMILY. CONNECT WITH DAMIAN: T: @damianKerlin #AnthemsPride is a collection of 30 original manifestos, speeches, stories, poems and rallying cries written and voiced by exceptional LGBTQIA+ contributors and allies. It was created, sound designed and executive produced by Hana Walker-Brown with lead producer Bea Duncan, producer Francesca Turauskis and production manager Rory Boyle. The artwork is by Mars West and Eleanore Bamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being asked this week if I was concerned I'd be single and childless forever, I decided to dedicate an episode to the various reasons people may have for not wanting children, the challenging process many people go through with IVF, and different same-sex couple adoption laws in countries such as America and here in England. For more information visit the website of charity group Adoption UK.

Hana, aged 23, speaks to Alan Burnell about the reality of her life growing up as an adoptee and how she felt finding out when she was older about the trauma and abuse she experienced in her early years. Hana shares her thoughts on contact with her birth family and the impact that early life trauma has had on her. She reflects on the post adoption support she thinks is essential to help adoptees thrive both in childhood and throughout their lives. Alan Burnell OBE is co-founder of Family Futures and an adoptee. If you are affected by what you have heard in this episode and would like to speak to someone for support, you can contact the Family Futures helpline on 020 7354 4161 or Adoption UK's helpline: 0300 666 0006 / helpline@adoptionuk.org.uk Please note that the views expressed in this podcast series are the views of our guest speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Family Futures. #FamilyFuturesPodcast aims to amplify, educate and inform. Subscribe on Spotify to listen to our series, Real Life Stories, which amplifies voices in adoption and fostering.  Family Futures is a not for profit, independent adoption and fostering agency in London, rated Ofsted Outstanding, and a leading provider of therapeutic support for families. Find out more about Family Futures at www.familyfutures.co.uk Created and produced by Charlotte Mumford

Em Smyth went into the Pandemic with no children and is living and breathing the Rush Hour, as less than two years later she has two kids under two and a half. Em is keen to address the misinformation that seems to be rife around adoption, talking Steph through the adoption process (top tip: don't joke about worrying your kid will become a serial killer when you're being vetted to become adoptive parents). Steph and Em discuss mother's guilt, which Em says can feel even more intense when you've adopted as the parent can feel they need to do even more to make life ‘good' for their child. Em talks with Steph about wishing people didn't do a head tilt and say ‘aren't you doing a wonderful thing, you must be a really special person'. She says it's not a romantic concept or a moral manoeuvre - she is their parent, this was her route to becoming a mum (and sometimes they're hard work, like all children). Steph and Em also talk about feeling isolated and incapable in those early months, heightened by doing it in a pandemic, how different holidays feel, and feeling like she lost her sense of style when she became a mum. As a plus-size model, Em has gone on a journey with her body, and also talks with Steph about aiming for body neutrality. Em's Instagram For more information on adoption, go to Adoption UK or contact your local authority Steph's Instagram Thoughtful gifts at Don't Buy Her Flowers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

FASD Hope is a podcast about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), through the lens of parent advocates with over nineteen years of lived experience.    Episode 117 highlights Aliy Brown and her amazing #fasdadvocacy work through FASD Hub Scotland. Aliy Brown is the FASD Project Manager of FASD Hub Scotland and FASD Service Lead of Adoption UK. Aliy is an adoptive parent to three young people, one of whom has an FASD diagnosis, and Aliy understands the realities of supporting and parenting individuals with a history of PAE and FASD.  Aliy has a background in project management within the NHS and central government, is a Chartered Manager, and has previously worked in the third sector at home & overseas.  Aliy graduated from Newcastle University as a mature student in 1999 with a B.A. Hons in Social Policy and has worked for Adoption UK Scotland since 2015.  In her spare time, she likes being outdoors, spending time on adventures in her family's motorhome, and enjoying creative crafts.    In this inspirational episode, Aliy shares: her family's adoption & FASD stories, the comprehensive and wonderful resources offered by FASD Hub Scotland and her words of hope & inspiration.   EPISODE RESOURCES -   FASD Hub Scotland - https://www.adoptionuk.org/fasd-hub   FASD Hub Scotland helpline is open Tuesday-Friday, 10am to 2.30pm 0300 666 0006 outside these times people can leave an answer phone message or alternatively they can email the FASD Hub team at fasdhub.scotland@adoptionuk.org.uk People can access a wide range of digital resources, events FASD Hub Scotland has hosted and previous Wednesday Webinars and Webinar events by visiting their YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_JeE1pfMVdVxu3hKNXuCEw?view_as=subscriber Specific FASD free factsheets and education resources are available here - https://www.adoptionuk.org/factsheets-fasd During April, FASD Hub Scotland will also be launching a number of new initiative with their brand new team of FASD Hub Volunteers, who are currently going through induction and getting themselves set up.  People should keep a look out on social media for more updates of activities coming to their area. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FASDHubScot Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fasdhubscotland/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/FasdhubScotland   FASD Hope - https://www.fasdhope.com/ natalie@fasdhope.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fasdhope/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fasdhope1 Twitter - https://twitter.com/fasdhope LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-vecchione-17212160/ Racket - @fasdhope Clubhouse - @natalievecc Check out our new book “Blazing New Homeschool Trails: Educating and Launching Teens with Developmental Disabilities” by Natalie Vecchione & Cindy LaJoy  BUY IT NOW!

In this week's podcast after a brief reflection on the Podcast Conference we look at the issue that has been dominating social media in the adoption community this week. One of Adoption UK's trustees wrote a blog that was published online, in national newspapers as well as informing a discussion on Radio 4's Woman's Hour. The issue was the issue of adoption disruption and the need for additional support for adopters. It's not the first time that the topic has been raised but in this case aspects of it's representation, confidentiality and presentation caused an unprecedented level of reaction with concerns being raised by the Scottish Children's Commissioner in relation to the piece.  In this podcast we invited Dawn Harker to chat with us about the issue at short notice and we consider the impact of the reports as well as trying to consider why this piece was so inflammatory. She speaks from a personal perspective as an adoptee.  If we're honest it was a difficult chat, we didn't want to add to the public shaming or to compound the oversharing of personal details. Consequently, we are at times very measured but as the conversation progresses we cast off some of those anxieties.  Please note, after we recorded it Adoption UK released a statement to acknowledge concerns and announce that the trustee has stepped down. We considered adding to the podcast but we basically ran out of steam. You can read it here.   As always if you'd like to share your thoughts or story then get in touch through the aandfpodcast@gmail.com email.  Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here

Vivianne Miedema of the Netherlands and Arsenal has been crowned the winner of BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2021. The annual award from the BBC World Service is voted for by football fans from around the world. She is the all-time leading scorer in the FA WSL (women's super league) and has scored more goals at the international level for the Netherlands than any other player, across both the women's and men's teams. This month, November 2021 she became the first player in the history of the WSL to score against every team they have faced, after scoring against Manchester United. Nicola Adams OBE is officially Great Britain's most successful female boxer of all time. She won gold at the London Olympics in 2012 and repeated the achievement in Rio in 2016. She is the only female boxer in the history of the sport to have won every major title available to her; Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth. So, it's not a surprise that Amazon Prime Video have made a documentary about her. Lioness: The Nicola Adams Story explores her difficult upbringing and her battles with sexism, racism and homophobia to get in the ring. We find out how a girl from a council estate in Leeds became a #Lioness. In the first part of a new series 'Under Pressure' Zoe and James explain how 'Ed' which is the name they gave Zoe's eating disorder changed their lives. How is a relationship impacted when life stuff happens? We don't often hear about adoptions that break down, but last week former BBC Scotland health correspondent Eleanor Bradford wrote about her "heart-breaking" decision to return her adopted son to the care system. She said she was unable to cope with her son's “extremely challenging” behaviour and that she was “furious about the lack of support for adoptive parents” in Scotland. Eleanor Bradford joins Emma to share her experience along with the chief executive of Adoption UK, Sue Armstrong Brown. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Kirsty Starkey Interviewed Guest: Vivianne Miedema Interviewed Guest: Nicola Adams Interviewed Guest: Eleanor Bradford Interviewed Guest: Sue Armstrong Brown

Terry has worked in the field of children's social care for over 38 years. He began his career in the Voluntary Sector, working for the then Catholic Rescue Society as a residential child care officer, before moving to work within a local authority setting in 1983.For several years he again worked in a residential setting, helping to manage a “fostering preparation unit”, as a qualified social worker, he was enlisted to conduct fostering and adoption assessments too and so the passion for family placement work began.From 1989 until 2013 Terry managed family placement services for the council and specifically managed the adoption service there for over 24 years. In that time Terry helped steer the service through successive outstanding inspection results and established the service as one of the best performing in the country.He has built up an expertise in early permanence planning and has routinely been enlisted to support other adoption agencies as they strive to develop fostering for adoption and concurrent placements.As Director of ARC Adoption Terry's career has come full circle with a return to the Voluntary Sector. It is now Terry's hope that he and the team at ARC Adoption can use their skills to make a major contribution to children's lives on a national level.Outside of work Terry is a Vice Chair of governors for a local school, acts as a child protection representative for the Catholic Diocese and is chair of a parish council. He is married to Lesley, has a son John, and grandson Oliver, who alongside Sunderland Football Club and two Golden Retrievers called Sadie and Tara, is his pride and joy.Connect with Terry https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-fitzpatrick-116155100/ARC Adoption North East is an Outstanding Independent Voluntary Adoption Agency located in the North East of England.For all of us in our Sunderland based team, it is a privilege to work in the field of adoption. We use our extensive knowledge and skills to increase the opportunities for children to experience a positive family life. As a prospective adopter, we will take you through the process and help you feel valued and supported. Registered and rated Outstanding by Ofsted, we work in partnership with Local Authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies to help them deliver high quality services to some of the most vulnerable children in their care.We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of experienced, multi-disciplinary, practitioners here at ARC Adoption who help us deliver a wide range of services aimed at supporting adopted children and their families to feel secure. This has enabled us to be one of the most successful agencies in our region for recruiting families and placing children.Through our memberships of The Northern Consortium of Adoption Agencies; CoramBAAF Adoption and Fostering Academy; the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA); New Family Social and Adoption UK, we make a major contribution to the adoption process nationally and to seek continuous improvement in all that we do.ARC Adoption North East believes that every child deserves the right to grow up in a nurturing and loving family who will support them through childhood and prepare them for adult life.Our primary mission is to increase the number of nurturing, loving adoptive families available to the many vulnerable children in our society who are unable to live within their birth families.We aim to recruit at least 40 families per year in order to offer a range of placement opportunities to local authorities who are unable to find adopters to meet the individual needs of the children in their care. We intend to increase the number of ‘foster to adopt' placements available in order to minimise placement moves for children, thereby improving their attachment experience; increase the number of adopters able to consider a ‘concurrent' placement supporting best outcomes for individual children and increase the number of adoptive families able to consider sibling placements.https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/https://twitter.com/arcadoptionnehttps://www.facebook.com/arcadoptionne/

Here's some information about Nugent from their website:Nugent Adoption is a registered and approved Independent Adoption Agency located in the North West of England. Nugent became a Registered Adoption Agency in 1943; therefore we have been involved in placing children for adoption for 75 years.We provide a welcoming team of professional and dedicated social work staff who are experienced in all areas of adoption. Our aim is to increase the opportunities for children who have experienced a difficult start, to enjoy a positive, safe and secure family life.We pride ourselves on providing a friendly, responsive service and on guiding our prospective adopters through the adoption process making them feel valued and supported. We are pleased to hear from potential adopters regardless of their gender, age, sexuality, disability, ethnicity, religion or marital status. We are Ofsted registered and we work in partnership with Local Authorities across England, Wales and Scotland to help them deliver services to some of the most vulnerable children in their care.We also have many years of experience in assessing prospective adopters who wish to adopt a child from overseas. As well as this we offer on-going support to all those affected by adoption such as adult adoptees who wish to access their adoption records, as well as birth family members wishing to trace their adopted relatives.We are members of Adoption 22; CoramBAAF; the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) and Adoption UK.Find out more at:https://wearenugent.org/https://www.instagram.com/wearenugent/https://www.facebook.com/wearenugenthttps://twitter.com/wearenugent

Fiona is responsible for service delivery and development across Scotland. Fiona manages a team of skilled and experienced staff members who have personal and professional experience allowing them to offer information, advice and support to adoptive families in Scotland.With a degree in Sociology and a qualification in Speech and Language therapy,  Fiona comes from a child focussed professional background. Previous roles involved developing and coordinating family support services for children and families affected by disabilities, and working in a residential respite environment. She has a further qualification in Autism, and an interest in therapeutic interventions. Fiona believes that Adoption UK in Scotland offers unique support to families, with a foundation of peer support and shared learning and experiences, and is keen to develop the support services to help meet the needs of families and raise awareness of adoption in Scotland.Connect with Fiona athttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-aitken-5a382a34Adoption UK in Scotland operates from their office base in Edinburgh, providing information, support and advice to those parenting children who are no longer able to live with their birth families, across Scotland. Their services are provided through their helpline, online support systems, training workshops and support groups. They work closely with voluntary adoption agencies and local authorities across Scotland.Find out more at:https://www.adoptionuk.org/Scotlandhttps://twitter.com/AUKScothttps://www.facebook.com/AdoptionUKScotland/

Mick is joined by the author of Adoption UK's new barometer report looking into the experiences of young adopted people. Becky Brooks sets out her findings, including the difficulties young adopted people have as a result of a number of factors. Also, Mimi joins the programme to discuss her experience of adoption, and how she needed to take steps to protect her mental health after a suicide attempt. You can read the full report from Adoption UK Follow Mick on Twitter @MrMickCoyle and join the MHM Facebook group 

Interview with Author of, "Eddy Finds a Family"Debby Wells with Sarah McGeoughPlease listen in on Sarah McGeough and me as we talk about her very personal journey to have a baby. After losing her ability to have a child, waiting to adopt, the arrival of their adopted baby son. Sarah openly discusses the feelings and issues she and her husband dealt with while waiting for the adoption to be final and the changes in their lives after he arrives home.. She will tell us about the books she has written for children to help them work through the maze of confusion, fear and emotions they experience as they grow up knowing they are adopted.Sarah McGeough - BIO 2021We tried for a child for 8 years. It was an immensely challenging and emotionaltime. We went through two rounds of IVF, an ectopic pregnancy, diagnosis ofAdenomyosis and sadly then a hysterectomy. We were determined to have achild so started to research adoption and decided this was something wewanted to pursue. We waited three years to adopt our son. It was a long anddraining process and at times we felt like giving up. Thankfully an amazingsocial worker came to our rescue and within a few months we were told wecould potentially be matched to a baby who had not yet been born. This wasmost certainly a wow moment; and once this happened, we would continue tokeep getting these wow moments again and again. The next wow was whenwe were on holiday in Majorca. We got an email telling us our potential sonhad been born, he was doing well, told us his name and how much heweighed. This was such a surreal moment as you don’t believe it is happening.It was a difficult journey but we completed our family in 2016 and adopted ourson. At the time we didn’t feel there were many books available to help himunderstand his adoption journey and so during lock-down I decided to self-publish my first children’s book Eddy Finds a Family in December 2020.Writing a book has been a life changing experience for me. The first lockdownin 2020 was tough but suddenly having a goal to write a book was making mefeel excitement on a whole new level. I seemed to have buried my creativeside, but suddenly there it was, bursting to come out. I loved every momentand each step I took made me more and more determined to get my book outthere into the world. My book is a tribute to our son which also helped as amotivator. It means so much to be able to give him this gift as his mummy.My goal was to write a colourful and engaging story so all children would beable to understand adoption in a better way. Eddy Finds a Family is unique as itexplains both the parent and child’s journey through adoption. My son oftenasks, ‘How did you find me?’ and, ‘Was I lost?’ as he is interested to know howwe came together to be a family. This is so vitally important. My son has beenmy chief editor, asking questions about the characters and commenting on thedraft illustrations. It has been wonderful for him to have such involvement andhaving a child’s perspective has helped fine-tune the story so I have confidenceit will appeal to many children and they will get great joy from the characters.As the topic of adoption is extremely sensitive, I had to ensure the content wasprecise, accurate and up to date. I worked closely over several months withour social worker to proofread and edit every fine detail. I’m so grateful to SueArmstrong Brown, CEO of Adoption UK who read the final manuscript andwrote such a positive review which is featured on the back cover of my book.I have been delighted by the response with the limited editiSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/join/SpecialFamily/checkout?ru=undefined)

I am really excited to tell you that I have been asked to join the Adoption UK team, in todays episode I am sharing my journey and what this will mean to me. I have also been asked to speak with my network and check in on how the adoption community has found the last year of virtual training and activities.    You will hear all about it, but I have 3 questions for you:  Have you accessed any virtual activities? If no, why?  How have you found them?  When do you want to get back to in person activities?    Feel free to drop me your answers on our social media or email   Thank you so much for listening, if you have a story you would like to share with our audience or comments you would like to add, you can always find us on our social media:   https://www.instagram.com/adoption.adventures/ https://www.facebook.com/adoption.adventures https://twitter.com/AdoptionAdvent1 Email – adoptionadventures123@gmail.com

We chat to Hugh Thornbery the Chair of Trustees of Become, consultant to the ASLB and former CEO of Adoption UK. Hugh has been involved in the adoption sector for several years and share with us the genesis of the current policy and political position on adoption as well as his reflections from his time as the CEO of Adoption UK and working with the previous chair of the ASGLB. He bring insight and perspective to the challenges that the sector faces as well as offering some thought on the recently announced care review, it's chair and the perspectives from those with care experience.  As always, thanks for listening and if you'd like to email us with comments or suggestions the you can at AandFpodcast@gmail.com  You can also listen to the podcast:  iTunes here      Spotify here       Google here

In this weeks episode we reflect across a few issues that have been floating around the adoption world. We unpick Adoption UK's "Adoption Barometer" and look at some of the headline issues raised in it. We also chat a little more in relation to social work practitioners views on the #YouCanAdopt campaign as well as some stuff that we've been doing in relation to that. Al Reflects on this recent NVR training and we discuss the upcoming inaugural National Conference that we've scheduled in for the 20th November. We also chat through some of the upcoming podcast stuff that we're hoping to do.  As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here. Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here  

Hello and welcome to the Alcohol Alert, brought to you by The Institute of Alcohol Studies. In this edition:A round-up of how alcohol drinkers, producers and retailers have fared as the prospect of a second coronavirus wave loomsThink tank finds NoLo drinks have limited impact 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵SHAAP and IAS launch the Men and Alcohol reportNumbers of alcohol-related admissions to English hospitals continue to risePoll shows almost half of Scots surveyed now back minimum pricing for alcoholBacklash over NICE plans to record pregnant womens’ consumptionWe announce the winners of our Small Grants SchemeWe hope you enjoy our roundup of stories below: please feel free to share. Thank you.Drinking in the second wave of a pandemicCoping with COVID-19: Alcohol offers little comfort to solitary drinkers One of the enduring stories of 2020 has been the question of how some people use alcohol to cope with new ways of living in the time of COVID-19. One of the many research attempts to find this out, the Global Drug Survey (GDS), found that almost half (48%) of Brits have so far upped their alcohol intake during the pandemic, ‘due to loneliness, depression and anxiety’ (Guardian, 09 Sep). Furthermore, 30% of drinkers said increased alcohol consumption had worsened their mental health and 47% disclosed that their physical health had deteriorated.Researchers found that increased use of both alcohol and cannabis due to anxiety, loneliness or depression was significantly higher among people with a pre-existing mental health or neurodevelopmental condition. That group of respondents were at least twice as likely to report worse mental health (38%) due to drinking more alcohol than those without such conditions (19%).The study also highlighted the limitations of a substance perceived as having some social purpose: when the venue for consuming alcohol is removed from people’s lives, drinking for some doesn’t simply stop, but instead manifests in other potentially unhealthy ways. The number of people drinking alone at home while on audio or video calls, such as Zoom meetings, or during ‘watch parties’, where friends view and discuss films and TV programmes together via group chat, increased from 17% to 38%.Comparing alcohol with cannabis, professor Adam Winstock, GDS chief executive, observed: ‘People’s drug use is hugely dependent upon being able to socialise and when that ability goes away, people turn to drugs that they’re already familiar with – cannabis and alcohol. But the impact of increases of those two drugs is quite distinct, and those drinking more alcohol come off worse.’Closing time for COVID? Pubs on curfewSome spending data indicated the desire on the part of some to resume pre-pandemic habits, but the results were mixed, ‘with like-for-like [August] sales down 3·6%’ against the same month last year (This is Money, 28 Sep).Signs of economic recovery were likely the focus of discussions between Hospitality Ulster and Stormont ministers about the prospect of reopening drink-only pubs (BBC News Northern Ireland, 07 Sep).But with an uptick in the number of coronavirus cases in September, attention turned to whether and how pubs – the symbol of a nation trying to return to some kind of normal – were keeping customers safe (BBC News Business, 13 Sep)?In England, hospitality businesses (including pubs) became legally mandated to take customers’ contact details so they can be traced if a potential outbreak is linked to the venue. These rules were in addition to the new ‘Rule of Six’, which limits the number of people allowed to meet each other.Some pubs experienced small outbreaks within their own workforce: the JD Wetherspoon chain reported 60 Wetherspoon staff across 50 branches had tested positive for COVID-19 (Mirror, 14 Sep).Meanwhile, rumours spread of the possibility of implementing curfews on pub opening hours if the number of new coronavirus cases did not fall over the next few weeks (Daily Star, 14 Sep). A survey of more than 4,000 UK adults found that 69% would be favour of a 9PM curfew (YouGov, 15 Sep).And so, the government made plans to shut the pubs… at 10PM (BBC News, 22 Sep). While BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle wondered whether the move would be of marginal benefit in staving off the threat of the virus, chair of the Public Accounts Committee Meg Hillier asked the prime minister how the government was able to square their proposal with extending alcohol licensing provisions for pubs to acquire pavement licences for eating and drinking on the public highway?For all the government’s desire to strike a balance, representatives of the hospitality industry still claim that a curfew will neither help curb the virus nor the commercial viability of their businesses, which are ‘still on life support’. Talking to trade outlet Morning Advertiser (22 Sep), Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny called pubs ‘the home of responsible socialising’ and said his company had worked hard to implement safety measures across its pubs, to be rewarded with unnecessary restrictions, while Peter Borg-Neal, chief executive at multiple operator Oakman Inns, said he saw little public health benefit but ‘lots of economic damage’ instead.Can addiction treatment services survive a second wave?Whatever happens in the coming weeks, it is clear that our addiction services can ill afford to combat the swelling number of high risk drinkers seeking treatment alongside a second wave of COVID-19 cases. Royal College of Psychiatrists analysis of Public Health England’s latest data on the indirect effects of COVID-19 found that over 8·4 million people are now drinking at higher risk, up from just 4·8 million in February. But the multi-million-pound cuts made to addiction services since 2013/14 mean they could miss out on life-saving treatment (14 Sep).Professor Julia Sinclair, chair of the college’s addictions faculty, said: ‘COVID-19 has shown just how stretched, under-resourced and ill-equipped addiction services are to treat the growing numbers of vulnerable people living with this complex illness.Drug-related deaths and alcohol-related hospital admissions were already at all-time highs before COVID-19. I fear that unless the government acts quickly we will see these numbers rise exponentially.’Think tank: NoLo drinks have limited impact🎵 Podcast feature 🎵A report on no and low alcohol beverages (‘NoLo’) from the Social Market Foundation finds limited evidence for their impact on health outcomes (08 Sep). Sponsored by Alcohol Change UK (ACUK), the publication finds that whilst NoLo products may help individuals reduce their consumption, they are unlikely to produce the aggregate level reductions in alcohol-related harms public health experts would desire.The key findings were:The market for NoLo drinks – whilst brands continue to release new products into the NoLo drinks category – worth around £110 million in 2018/19 – it is thought NoLo products comprised just 0·2% of the total market for alcoholic drinks in that year. The report estimates that annual sales growth of NoLo drinks would have to exceed over 40% per annum for market share to stand above 10% by 2030Consumers in the NoLo market – survey results commissioned specially for this study found that one in five people (21%) have consumed an alcohol-free beer, cider, wine or spirit in the last year. Including low-strength drinks (up to 1·2% alcohol content), this rises to 27%. Young people and those in higher income socioeconomic groups were more likely to have tried a NoLo productThe regulation of the NoLo market – Guidance and ABV descriptors issued by the Department of Health and Social Care contains elements of ambiguity and are often out of step with other European countriesThe presentation of NoLo products – press coverage of NoLo drinks typically centres on the ‘new sensibility’ of younger people and NoLo as a ‘community’ or ‘movement’. Some producers have tapped into this by promoting their NoLo products as substitutes for stronger products. Others prefer to market them as additional to existing drinks on the marketThe impact on alcohol-related harms – survey results for this report indicate that among those that have consumed NoLo drinks over the past 12 months, about four in ten have cut back on their alcohol consumption. However, a similar number reported no change. A significant proportion of consumers of NoLo also indicated that they do so on top of, rather than instead of, stronger products. This raises concerns about how NoLo products can tackle alcohol-related harms at the population levelConsiderations for policy – whilst the Government has indicated that NoLo products will be key to reducing alcohol-related harm, this report cautions that NoLo drinks must form part of a much wider harm prevention strategy. Government should also consider reforming ABV descriptors for NoLo and legislate to protect against alibi marketing.Commenting on the findings, ACUK director of research and policy Lucy Holmes said (you can listen to our interview on NoLo drinks in our podcast):MPs and peers call on government to urgently address Britain’s alcohol harm crisisAbridged from the Alcohol Health Alliance UK press releaseAs the leading risk-factor for ill health, death and disability among those aged 15 to 49 in England, alcohol is inflicting long-lasting harm across all areas of society and family life, yet not enough is being done to tackle the problem, say a group of cross-party parliamentarians, who are calling on the government to develop an alcohol strategy to get to the heart of the nation’s drink problem.Under the independent Commission on Alcohol Harm was set up by alcohol health experts and parliamentarians to examine the full extent of alcohol harm across the UK. Evidence submitted to the Commission highlights the serious impact alcohol harm has on family life, with children living with an alcohol dependent parent five times more likely to develop eating disorders, twice as likely to develop alcohol dependence or addiction, and three times as likely to consider suicide. The accompanying online launch also saw moving testimony from those whose lives have been harmed by alcohol.The Commission concluded that a new UK-wide alcohol strategy is required urgently. Recommendations from the final report include (summary):The new alcohol strategy must include targeted measures to support families and protect children from harm, including alcohol-fuelled violenceThe new alcohol strategy must be science-led and adopt the World Health Organization’s evidence-based recommendations for reducing the harmful use of alcohol. This includes measures on affordability – such as the introduction of minimum unit pricing in England – and restrictions on alcohol advertising and marketing – such as ending sports sponsorship, better information for consumers, advice and treatment for people drinking at hazardous and harmful levels, and action to reduce drink-drivingReducing the £3·5bn cost of alcohol to the NHS would help to relieve pressure on the service and free up capacity to respond to the consequences of COVID-19Changing the conversation and challenging alcohol’s position in our culture. This means addressing the stigma around alcohol use disorders, encouraging conversations about drinking to take place more easily and creating space for people to be open about the effects of alcohol on their health and those around them.Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance said (you can also hear his thoughts on the report in the podcast): ‘When people think about alcohol harm, they often think about liver damage – but its impact goes much further than this. This report highlights the very real ways that alcohol can devastate not just the life of the drinker but those around them. If we wish to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic as a healthier society, we must address the ongoing health crisis of alcohol harm.’If you want to help the Alcohol Health Alliance reach decision makers so they take action to reduce alcohol harm, you can – follow the link below to share the report with your local MP.Launch of Men and Alcohol reportScottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) have launched a new report presenting key findings and recommendations for policy and practice from their 2019/2020 Men and Alcohol seminar series (09 Sep), along with a webinar discussion of key themes raised.The report highlights how alcohol consumption is closely connected to male identity, and that alcohol-related harms, both mental and physical, remain a significant issue for men in the UK, with men less likely to seek help for mental health problems.Key recommendations for policy include: calls to strengthen restrictions on alcohol availability; to enforce bans on alcohol advertising, sponsorship and promotion; to make alcohol less affordable via taxation and pricing policies, and to invest in youth services and ‘alcohol-free’ spaces to help prevent alcohol-related harm.The report’s recommendations for practice address the need for all services to be joined-up, trauma-informed and exercising professional optimism, and emphasise that services should be guided by the expertise of individuals with lived experience in order to reduce the stigma of seeking help.Alcohol-related admissions to hospitals risingNHS Digital’s latest release on patient care activity in English NHS hospitals (17 Sep) has found that there were nearly 670,000 admissions by diagnosis for the three most common alcohol-related case types (Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol, Alcoholic liver disease, and Toxic effects of alcohol) in 2019/20.The number of admissions marks a 4% increase on the previous year: there were approximately 644,000 admissions in 2018/19. As the main diagnosis, the three main case types totalled just over 120,000 admissions, 2% up on the previous period, when there were almost 118,000.When split by case type, the majority (69%) of the three major alcohol-related admissions were for Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol (459,468), of which it was the main diagnoses for 68,128 admissions. A quarter were for Alcoholic liver disease (170,031), of which it was the main reason for 50,561 admissions. 6% were for the Toxic effects of alcohol (40,337), of which it was the main reason for 1,329 admissions.The majority of cases were male (67%), and when split by age, those in their fifties were most frequently admitted to English hospitals in 2019/20. There were across-the-board increases in admissions for patients aged 50 years and above compared with 2018/19. In other researchAlmost half of Scots surveyed now back minimum pricing for alcohol: 49·8% of 1,022 people surveyed by Public Health Scotland supported the measure (22 Sep).The survey comes as research published in Health Economics finds that minimum unit pricing (MUP) has had a successful initial impact on increasing alcohol prices (thus reducing affordability) and reducing alcohol sales (and consumption by proxy). The paper found that the impact of MUP on alcohol prices and sales is most pronounced on off‐premise venues (15 Sep).And in Wales, polling commissioned by Alcohol Change UK Cymru found that three quarters of 1,000 respondents knew about MUP compared with just half of drinkers in Wales when asked a year ago, and that of those who were aware of its implementation six months ago, 10% were drinking less alcohol because of it (Bro Radio, 28 Sep).Using publicly available national data (including Hospital Episode Statistics), a study conducted by the University of Hull reported that a decrease in admissions to specialist alcohol inpatient services subsequently marked an increase in admissions to acute hospital services (Alcohol and Alcoholism, 04 Sep). This decrease in admissions to specialist treatment centres has been associated with significant reductions in public health funding to such services since the introduction of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. However, these reductions have resulted in a shift of service use, particularly placing increasing pressures on emergency departments due to a larger number of patients with chronic alcohol disorders accessing care.A new paper conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dark Nudges and Sludge in Big Alcohol: Behavioral Economics, Cognitive Biases, and Alcohol Industry Corporate Social Responsibility, evaluates the roles of dark nudges and sludges in the alcohol industry (Milbank Quarterly, 15 Sep; video summary here). It shows how alcohol industry bodies such as Drinkaware use dark nudges and sludges to influence consumers’ views, often against their best interests. In particular, messages promoting the ‘social norms’ of drinking are frequently distributed, for example the technique of ‘omission biases’ in the infographic ‘Alcohol and the body’ from Drinkaware Ireland, which, by omitting women, consequently fails to highlight that breast cancer is also a major hazard of alcohol consumption.A multicohort study conducted by University College London has shown that those who have reported losing consciousness due to alcohol consumption (regardless of their weekly intake) have double the risk of developing dementia, compared with moderate drinkers who never lost consciousness (JAMA Network, 09 Sep). Overall, those who were moderate-to-heavy drinkers had a 1·2-fold greater risk of developing dementia in the long-term. Alcohol misuse was seen to cause brain atrophy and neuronal loss in several areas of the brain, such as the frontal cortex. Other side-effects of heavy drinking, such as hypertension, can also be attributed to dementia. Plans to record pregnant womens’ consumption not so NICEPregnancy rights’ advocates have criticised a proposal from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) of a Quality Standard to record pregnant women’s alcohol consumption on their child’s medical records in England (Guardian, 16 Sep).NICE’s proposal was drawn up as part of a consultation to cement guidelines for doctors to diagnose and prevent foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Proponents argue that the risk of FASD – a range of physical and mental conditions caused by drinking in pregnancy – to an unborn child should be the reason for prioritising their needs.However, pregnancy charities including the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BASP) and Birthrights suggested that the guideline on recording alcohol consumption could be a breach of the expectant mother’s confidentiality, and therefore fall foul of data protection regulations.A quarter of adopted UK children may have symptoms of FASDThe results of an Adoption UK survey of nearly 5,000 adopters underscore FASD campaigners’ concern about drinking habits during pregnancy: one in four adopted children are either diagnosed with or suspected to have a range of conditions caused by drinking in pregnancy (Guardian, 29 Sep).8% of children had a diagnosis, and a further 17% were suspected by their parents to have foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD),The survey also showed 55% of families polled had waited two years or longer for an FASD diagnosis, and 78% felt healthcare professionals lacked basic knowledge about the condition.Maria Catterick, director of the FASD Network UK, said the statistics were unsurprising given that ‘alcohol, drugs and domestic abuse are major reasons why children are placed into the care system’.Small Grants Scheme awards announced!We are delighted to announce that we will be funding three projects led by early career researchers in the alcohol field through the new IAS Small Grants Scheme.Proposals were considered in a two-stage process and reviewed externally. This was a highly competitive round and the standard of applications overall was extremely high. Feedback was provided to all applicants. We will be funding the following projects in the coming months:Dr Elena Dimova, Glasgow Caledonian University: Exploring men’s alcohol consumption in the context of becoming a father: A scoping reviewJessica Muirhead, Wrexham Glyndŵr University: Effective online age gating using MCC codesDr Emily Nicholls, University of Portsmouth: Rewriting the rules or playing the game? An investigation into the ways in which social norms around gender & drinking are challenged &/or reinforced through the promotion, marketing & consumption of Alcohol-Free drinksThe UK Alcohol Alert (incorporating Alliance News) is designed and produced by The Institute of Alcohol Studies. Please click the image below to visit our website and find out more about us and what we do, or the ‘Contact us’ button. Thank you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit instalcstud.substack.com

We recorded a webinar a while back with Adoption UK about adopting an older child but thought that it would be good to have it as an episode, so I covered the topic all over again!! :-)  If you have any questions about adopting an older child or anything else, then get in touch at: adoptionadventures123@gmail.com Adoption.Adventures - Facebook and Instagram AdoptionAdvent1 - Twitter 

Hello, we're off on our annual summer hols so to keep the podcast machine rolling we're releasing a webinar that Scott did for Adoption UK. It's focus is on the parenting young adults with some of the unique challenges that can bring.  We hope that you are having a smashing summer.  As always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here. Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here  

This week we speak to Sue Armstrong Brown the CEO of Adoption UK, we invited questions through social media so put them to her as well as following other lines of questioning. We discussed a whole host of issues including; adopted children returning to education, the challenges faced by self employed adopters, children returning to care, the difficulties of lockdown generally, moving support online and the lobbying priorities that AUK are looking to focus on through this time and beyond.  Of course, there's banter, a timing bell and it's all good humoured. We see that many charities are facing huge challenges at the moment and on another day at another time we'd have perhaps 'held feet to the fire' as it were, that not for these times.  We hope you enjoy and as always your views and thoughts are appreciated, you can contact the podcast through the usual routes and if you'd like to find out a little more the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's Facebook page is here, or our twitter feed here. Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here  

Hello, in what was a rather unusual turn of events we were asked to showcase through the medium of Podcasting the work that the FASD Hub Scotland do. We aren't always that helpful but the work that the Hub does is progressive and offers an excellent practice model and as such we were more than happy to chat to the team. The Hub is linked to Adoption UK Scotland's work however the advice and some of the resources available through the website are helpful and of use to families regardless.  In the podcast Aily Brown the FASD lead co hosts with Scott and they introduce the Hub and the work that is undertaken. Scott also takes time to speak to a few professional and parents(Jessica, Judith and Jen) that have roles in the hub as well as a parent (Gemma) that has received support through the services that the Hub provides. We hope you find it interesting and would like to get in touch with comments or suggestions then please do direct message us at our twitter feed here or on our facebook page here. Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here Google here You can access The Hub website here FASD Hub Scotland.

Panel presentations (Harry Daniels, Alison Woodhead and Lisa Cherry) for the Rees Centre Annual Lecture 2019 on school exclusion and issues for looked after and adopted children. Harry Daniels, Professor of Education This brief talk will provide a background to central aspects of exclusion from school and an overview of a new four year project led by Professor Harry Daniels and Associate Professor Ian Thompson at the University of Oxford’s Department of Education. A team of researchers operating across Oxford, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Reading and the London School of Economics (LSE) will develop a multi-disciplinary understanding of the political economies and consequences of school exclusion across the UK. The research will lead to a greater understanding of the cost of exclusions at individual, institutional and system levels, as well as pupils’ rights, entitlements, protection and wellbeing, and the landscapes of exclusion across the UK’s four jurisdictions. Alison Woodhead, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Adoption UK Not all children have an equal start in life. But all children deserve an equal chance at school. For tens of thousands of adopted children in the UK, the reality of school is a daily struggle for survival. Many are failing academically as a result, and levels of exclusion are high. Through detailed surveys of families and teachers, interviews with schools and discussions with education experts, Adoption UK has identified significant gaps in understanding, empathy and resources that are preventing adopted children from having an equal chance to succeed at school. Lisa Cherry, Author and Trainer One area that has received a lot of attention and focus in regard to looked after children has been education. Statistics have shown consistently that children living away from home under perform at every key stage within education. Looked after children are five times more likely to face a fixed term exclusion and twice as likely to experience a permanent exclusion (Department for Education, 2017). This study focuses on what impact there has been on education and employment on care experienced adults who left care in the 1970’s and 1980’s and were excluded from school. The findings offer a narrative on education across the life course of those who have been looked after away from home and excluded from school that suggests a strong desire to engage with education into adulthood. Relationships and their impact upon the individual, negatively and positively, raise questions about impact on the participants but also the perceived understanding of impact that teachers and social workers have of their input. In conclusion, the data collected provides answers about impact and the journey that had been undertaken to recover a lost education. These findings are important as they inform further research. They offer a different narrative about what happens to people across the life course and enable some insights for educators about their opportunity for positive impact and the results that this can bring, that ultimately stay with a person throughout their life.

Adoption can transform lives. Today, most children available for adoption have had a difficult start. Removed from birth parents and taken into care, many have experienced abuse and neglect which can leave them with complex mental health and/or developmental needs. Adoption can provide them with stable and loving homes. But what happens when the challenges the adoptive family faces become overwhelming? And is there enough support available to the families who give a home to some of the most vulnerable children in society? File on 4 hears from adoptive parents struggling to cope with their children's complex problems - and battling with the authorities to get the help they desperately need. The charity Adoption UK thinks as many as a quarter of all adoptive families are in crisis and in need of professional help to keep their family together. But are adoptive parents given enough information about the challenges they are likely to face and when they do encounter problems, is there enough help available? Two years ago, the government set up a special fund designed to help adoptive families in England access a range of post-adoption therapeutic services. To date, more than £52 million has been spent via the Adoption Support Fund. But where is the money going and are the treatments on offer proven to be effective? The truth is that no one really knows how many adoptions are 'disrupted' or end up in full break down when the child is permanently returned to care. But when they do, it is devastating for everyone involved. We speak to families fighting to get the help they need to stay together. Reporter: Alys Harte Producer: Jane Drinkwater.

Edited recording of Helens speech at Adoption UK "Growing up with socail networking" conference July 2012 linking sensory triggers, truth telling with contact and why neglect, maltreatment and trauma is at the heart of adoption and fostering