Audrey Bouazizi is the Head of Service for Adopt London South and holds overall responsibility for the leadership and delivery of the service. A qualified social worker with over 18 years of experience, Audrey brings extensive knowledge and insight to her role. She is also an active member of the Adopt London South Black Adoption Project Steering Committee, contributing to the development and direction of this important work.
Across England, there are children in care who continue to wait far too long for permanent, loving homes with their new adoptive family. Among them, Black children and those from mixed African or Caribbean heritage face the longest delays. This is not because they are more difficult to care for, but because there are not enough adopters coming forward to meet the cultural and identity needs for the number of children in need of a permanent adoptive home. We desperately need more people from the Black community to consider providing a stable and safe home and family life to a vulnerable child through adoption.
As a social worker of over 18 years and Head of Service for Adopt London South, I’m committed to ensuring every child can thrive in a safe, nurturing home. Yet the gap between the number of Black children in care and Black adopters remains deeply worrying. Black children make up around 7% of those in care, but only 2% of children adopted (Adoption UK, 2021).
Black and mixed-heritage children also spend much longer in care, often waiting over 18 months to be adopted. That’s precious time lost during their early years when stability is most vital. Without adopters, many will remain in the care system and miss out on the permanence and security that adoption can provide. As a Black woman, I have observed that this has been a perennial challenge throughout my entire social care career spanning over 30 years, and it saddens me to know that we are still grappling with these poorer outcomes for our Black children.
As a member of the Adopt London South Black Adoption Project Steering Committee, I am proud to contribute to our local efforts to improve outcomes for Black children. Our work is shaped by the Adopt London Black Adoption Project Phase 1 report, which presents important findings on the challenges and inequalities faced by Black children and adopters across London.
The Black Adoption Project Phase 1 report, which covers the 24 London Boroughs for all four Adopt London regions, confirmed what many of us have known through lived and professional experience: Black children face the longest delays in adoption. Black African children wait on average 247 days longer, and Black Caribbean children 238 days longer than their white counterparts. In Adopt London boroughs, Black Caribbean children were 12 times more likely to have their adoption plan changed because “no suitable adopters could be found.”
Yet, this is not due to a lack of interest from Black communities. The report found that most prospective Black adopters started the process wanting to adopt a child of similar background, driven by a strong sense of cultural responsibility. However, Black-only adopter households were 5 to 6 times more likely to leave the process before completing it, often because of structural barriers like financial strain, limited support, and negative experiences during assessment. Many also described a lack of representation and understanding throughout their journey.
These figures show a clear and urgent need for more adopters from Black and mixed-heritage backgrounds. Every child deserves to grow up with a strong sense of identity and belonging. Children thrive in families that reflect and support their cultural heritage. For children of African and Caribbean descent, being adopted into a family with shared cultural roots helps them feel secure — essential for emotional and psychological development.
Being matched with families who understand their background helps children feel accepted and valued. While agencies are careful not to delay placements by waiting for exact cultural matches, a child's heritage is recognised as central to helping them grow into a confident and secure adult.
In Black communities, informal care and kinship networks are well established. Raising children who are not biologically ours is not new to us. What’s needed now is the confidence and support to take the formal step towards adoption.
Despite this readiness, persistent myths still hold people back. Some believe adoption is only for married couples or homeowners. Others worry their age, income, or personal circumstances might rule them out. These beliefs are simply not true. The most important thing is being able to offer a child a safe, loving, and stable home.
For some, the adoption process itself can seem overwhelming. Black adopters have shared concerns about the length of the process, how they are perceived, and how supported they feel at different stages. These experiences must be acknowledged. It is our responsibility as professionals to ensure the system works better for everyone. Adoption agencies across the country offer counselling, therapeutic support, and preparation guidance to make the process as accessible and supported as possible but there is still more progress to be made.
It is important to say clearly: people from all walks of life can adopt. Whether you are single or part of a couple, renting or a homeowner, on a modest income or a high earner — none of these circumstances are barriers to adoption. If you can offer a child love, safety, and stability, you could discover that you are the right person to adopt.
We are calling on Black individuals, couples, and families to take that next step. The children waiting in care are not waiting for perfection. They are waiting for someone who sees them, believes in them, and is willing to walk alongside them into the future. They are waiting for the person who can love and accept them unconditionally. Our children are waiting for the person who can help them understand their whole self and accept them into a loving family that respects and honours their family of origin.
The Black Adoption Project gives us the evidence and insight to push forward real change. What is powerful about the project is that the learning is shared across regions, so others can benefit from what is working well. Our aim is simple but essential: that Black children who need an adoptive family can have one.
You can be part of the solution to this challenge. Adoption is a life-changing commitment, but it is also an act of hope. It is a chance to build a family rooted in love and resilience.
To anyone wondering whether adoption is for them: if you can offer a child safety, love, and acceptance, then yes—it absolutely is, and we can’t wait to hear from you.