Adoption 'Myths' Deter Older Parents

By Alex Rossi, Senior Correspondent

A leading charity claims "damaging myths" about what is the right age to adopt a child in care are stopping many able older people from coming forward and fulfilling a vital role.

The British Association for Adoption and Fostering commissioned a new YouGov survey which shows that one in four adults think being over the age of 40 would stop someone from being able to adopt a child.

There is in fact no upper age limit to adoption, although adopters must be at least 21.

The poll also revealed that 31% of people also consider having a low income as a barrier to building a family through adoption and almost one fifth believe being single means you are not eligible to adopt.

Almost 4,000 children were adopted between April last year and March - the highest number since records began in the early 90s.

But around 2,000 more adoptive parents are currently needed. Many of the most needy children have already been in care and waiting for a placement for a long time.

BAAF spokesman John Simmonds says there is currently a chronic shortage of adopters and the perception many people have of what the right adopter is is exacerbating the problem.

"There is a significant recruitment problem in all of this - so where these myths exist, if they prevent people from coming forward to help close that adoption gap, children lose out in the most significant and profound ways."

Even successful adopters are not inured to the stereotypes.

Sara Stoneham adopted her little girl at the age of 48 but before she went through the process she had assumed that she was too old.

She believes older parents have an enormous amount to offer to some of the UK's most vulnerable kids.

"I just really do want people to know that if you are older you shouldn't stop thinking about the possibility of adoption - that you can adopt.

"There are thousands of children out there that actually need homes and that you might actually have the energy and the life experience that can help those children and I would really love people to know that."

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