Adoption support and counselling will soon be provided free of charge to families in North Somerset.

From April 1, the North Somerset Council is joining the South West Adoption Network (SWAN).

SWAN was launched in October and provides post adoption support for children and families connected with adoption in the south west.

These include adopted adults, adoptive parents, birth parents and other relatives of people connected with adoption

SWAN can offer advice over the phone as well as face-to-face consultations.

Among those those helped to set up SWAN is Fraser Duncan, (pictured) a therapist, and adoptive parent himself.

He has worked for the past 18 years with social services departments, education departments, the NHS and with private and voluntary organisations and has been involved for many years providing post-adoption support for adoptive parents and children as part of his involvement with Adoption UK, a national adoption support group.

The helpline number for SWAN is 0845 601 2459 and it is based at Leinster House, Leinster Avenue, Knowle, Brisol.