Right now 5,000 children are waiting for a new family. You can give a child a new start in life by providing a loving home through adoption.

Adoption is a way of providing a permanent family for children who can no longer be brought up by their birth parents. When you adopt a child, you legally take on all the rights and responsibilities for the child that the birth parent had. It' s a lifelong commitment and like all parenting, it means sticking with it through good times and bad.

Adopting a child is challenging but it's one of the most rewarding things you can do.

Who can adopt?
If you are over 21 and you can provide a permanent, stable and caring home for a child you can apply to adopt.

All sorts of people make good adoptive parents. There are many common myths about who can and cannot adopt.

For example, it is widely believed that you can't adopt if you smoke, are too old or are overweight. This is not true. What counts is that you are healthy enough to care for a child until adulthood and beyond.

Some adoption facts:
It doesn't matter if you are married, single or divorced, are in or out of work, own your own home or rent. You can adopt whatever your ethnicity, culture, religion, or sexuality and there is no upper age limit.

You do need:
Lots of patience, humour and energy. The determination to make a real difference to a child' s life for a lifetime!

Which children need adoptive families?
All sorts of children from different backgrounds need adoptive families, from toddlers to teenagers. Sometimes there are two, three or more brothers and sisters who need to grow up together.

Many of the children have complex backgrounds and need lots of extra time and attention. Some children may have had difficult early life experiences. For example, they may have been abused or neglected in the past. Other children may have physical disabilities or learning difficulties.

For details of the whole adoption process check out our 'How to adopt' guide or contact us for more information.