'Nobody Knows Me Better' Adoption Campaign launched

Adoption Matters is joining regional and voluntary agencies to raise awareness of the need for adopters of siblings.

Figures have been collected by all North West Regional Adoption Agencies and in areas including Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Blackburn with Darwen, Bury And Tameside, statistics have revealed that 103 children were waiting for an adoptive home, 24 children aged four and over and 40 children were part of a sibling group as of January 31, 2025. 

The Nobody Knows Me Better campaign aims to raise awareness of the need for more people to consider adopting brothers and sisters with an animation featuring the real voices of adopted brothers and sisters from the region. https://youtu.be/69aZs4PnpOs 

The latest data shows that across the North West: 

• 374 children were waiting for an adoptive home  

• 145 of these children were part of a sibling group (39%)    

Children who are part of sibling groups, on average, wait seven months longer before finding their adoptive family, which represents a significant portion of their young lives.

Many of these children have been through difficult experiences and it is a priority to try and keep brothers and sisters together whenever possible. 

For many potential parents, some of the worries about adopting more than one child together is that they don’t have a big enough house or enough money.

Potential adopters do have to consider what this will mean for them as a family, but there is practical and possibly financial support available. 

Sarah Johal MBE, National Adoption Strategic Lead, Adoption England said: “Keeping siblings together permanently is really important for their sense of identity, and helps them to feel safe and settle more quickly into their new home.

"Many of these children have been through difficult experiences and for some, they have been the only constants in each other’s lives. 

"We hope that this campaign encourages more people to open up their hearts and homes to adopting a sibling group.” 

The campaign is also sharing stories from real-life adopters who have welcomed brother and sister groups into their family through adoption. 

Rachael and Paul, adopted three children. The couple said: “We had said from the beginning that we would like siblings. Paul and I both have siblings – he is one of three and I am one of four.

"We said initially we would like two siblings, and then possibly come back to have a third in a couple of years’ time. We ended up going from zero to three children very quickly!” 

Arfan and Sadia adopted three brothers and described it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives, adding: "Even though they came to us at different times, their bond is nothing short of magical. They have their own unique personalities and they love each other unconditionally.”. 

Martin and Mel became parents when their children were six and three. They had been previously living in separate foster placements but by being placed with a couple it meant they could be together again at last.  

“The main thing though that we really liked is knowing that the siblings would have each other. Whatever they’d been through in getting to this stage, they’d done it together, was so important. We thought that it might help them settle”. 

The campaign is supported by Adoption Matters charity ambassador and adopted adult, Dez Derry who commented: 

“The odds were stacked against me and my brothers when we were up for adoption in the 80s. We were of Indian-Sikh heritage, there were three of us and I was older. Statistically, we had little to no chance of being adopted at all, let alone together.  

"My brothers and I owe everything to our parents who took us on when nobody else would so that we could live our best lives without the added anguish and trauma of being separated at a really vulnerable time of our lives.” 

Find out more information visit: www.adoptionnorthwest.co.uk