Through our life-long adoption support, we help you to provide a safe, loving home for your adopted children whatever – and whenever – the challenges.
We offer adoption support to our adoptive families throughout childhood and beyond. Our friendly and experienced social workers will work with you to help you get the support you need so your adopted children can thrive.
What sort of support can I get?
Supporting adoptive families is our top priority. We are dedicated to continuing to deliver our services, while operating within the government’s health advice. We have adapted our support to make it as accessible as possible, with a hybrid offer of in-person and online events.
Our dedicated VAA adoption support helpline 0207 520 0383 operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm. We encourage all adopters to get in touch with us for support and advice, either by phone or by email: adoption@coram.org.uk
If you are looking for statutory support from your local authority that is part of the Coram Ambitious for Adoption RAA, please go to our adoption support within the RAA page.
Help with parenting
- parenting skills groups for all types of adoptive families including families with adopted teenagers
- help accessing education and health services for your children
- a regular newsletter to keep you up to date with developments in the adoption sector
- social events such as ‘Stay and play’ drop-ins on the first Friday of every month
Help with your children's education
- factsheets on schools admissions, special education needs (SEN) and exclusions from Coram Group charities the Child Law Advice Service and Coram Children’s Legal Centre
Help accessing additional support
- we are part of the Support Gateway providing adoptive families with fast and easy access to therapeutic support including art and music therapy, mentalisation-based therapy and other child and family psychological help. You can use the Adoption Support Fund to help pay for this service (scroll down to find out more about this fund).
Support for you and your adopted children
Our adoption support for your adopted children allows them to explore their identity in a safe way while developing confidence as they grow. From more than 40 years’ experience working with adoptive families, we know that adoption can have a lasting impact on children and young people. That’s why we offer tailored support for as long as they need:
Therapeutic support
Therapeutic support from Coram Creative Therapies, including art and music therapy.
Legal and education support
We also offer a range of legal and educational support for your children through our children’s rights and education charities. Visit the Coram website to find out more.
Birth records
As part of our life-long support, Coram offers birth records counselling to:
- former Foundling Hospital pupils and their descendants, and to those formally placed in Coram’s care. For details see Coram’s Birth Records page.
- those who grew up in the care of the Thomas Coram Foundation as foster children
- adults previously in the Foundation’s care as children but later adopted by their foster parents.
If this sounds like you and you would like more information, please contact us on 020 7520 0383 or at adoption@coram.org.uk
If you were adopted through:
- Coram Cambridgeshire Adoption
- Adopt Anglia
- East Anglia Adoption and Family Care Association
Cambridgeshire County Council Adoption Service holds all your records and can be contacted via:
Telephone: 0300 123 1093
Email: Adoptionenquiries@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Guides for adopted children and young people
These guides are designed for children and young people who have been adopted through Coram. They give an overview of the support we provide, and how to get in touch with us. You can download them in PDF format by clicking the links below.
Download guide for older children Download guide for young children
Am I entitled to any other adoption support?
In addition to our support, all adoptive families are entitled to:
- a summary of your child’s health from your local authority medical adviser
- a ‘life story’ book to help your child understand their early life
- a free early education place
- the Early Years Pupil Premium – this is funding to help your child’s Early Years setting improve their provision for children who need more support
- priority admission to the school of your choice
- your child’s school can also claim the Pupil Premium – this is additional funding to help meet your child’s needs.
- the Adoption Support Fund is funding for a range of therapeutic services, which you can access if your family qualifies. You can find out more on the First4Adoption website.