Voice and influence of experts by experience
Adoption England is committed to ensuring that people with lived experience are involved in decisions that affect their lives and that their voices are listened to, valued and influence positive change to meet the needs of children and families.
The national team includes two dedicated voice and influence leads, focusing on the development and co-ordination of voice and influence work with RAAs and key partners. Our voice and influence leads provide strategic advice, guidance and practical support to adoption agency professionals to improve how we support adopted children and young people, adopted adults, birth parents and adoptive parents. This ensures that these experts by experience have their voices heard and influence change both regionally and nationally.
Voice and influence of young people within adoption agencies
Our voice and influence lead provides strategic advice, guidance and practical support to adoption agency professionals to strengthen mechanisms for adopted children and young people to have their voices heard and influence change both regionally and nationally.
The voice and influence practice network (children and young people)
The voice and influence practice network work is run by our voice and influence lead, working with regional adoption agencies and other services within the sector to support the planning, development and delivery of high quality voice and influence practice with young people across all regions; to amplify young people’s voice by providing an opportunity to share current projects/plans and identify common issues, themes and feedback from young people; and to support practice sharing and partnership opportunities across the network. Network membership is open to any professional across the sector who is engaged in or planning voice and influence work with children and young people.
To join the network, please email us
Voice and influence for adopted people and birth parents
Our voice and influence lead for adopted people and birth parents works across the sector and has developed two national references groups. These groups comprise of around 10 people in each and are made up of people with a range of lived experiences of adoption. They meet quarterly to discuss their priorities for change and work with Adoption England to ensure that their voices are listened to and that they influence strategy, practice and support nationally.
Voice and influence for adopters
We are currently recruiting to a voice and influence lead for adoptive parents to add to the national team. Adoption England also works closely with Adoption UK and the national adopters reference group, run by the Department of Education, to ensure that the voices of adoptive parents are listened to and influence change nationally. Adoption UK has completed this consultation for Adoption England.
Adoption UK also consult annually with the Adoption Barometer: Adoption Barometer | Adoption UK Charity
Voice and influence resources
Adoption England and our partners are developing a range of resources to help amplify the voices of those with lived experience of adoption. The resources are intended to help adoption agencies when planning their own regional Voice and Influence work.
Youth Voice in Adoption Event - October 2024
On 30th October 2024, Adoption England held its first-ever Youth Voice in Adoption event in Leeds. The event brought together over 100 delegates, including young people from adoption groups and their group coordinators. The aim was to give young people a platform to share their views, highlight the importance of youth voice, and encourage other regions to create similar opportunities.