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Support for birth families

Have you been affected by adoption? Is your child no longer in your care or is there a chance that this could happen?

Our Birth Family Support Workers can help birth families where there is a plan of adoption, or where a child has been adopted.

We offer a free, non-judgemental support service to families who have been separated through adoption.

The service is available to birth parents and other birth relatives.

People sat round a table chatting with hot beveragesWe are a team of 6 Birth Family Support Workers who are passionate about supporting birth families whatever their circumstances. We support birth families living in Derbyshire, Derby City, Nottingham City, and Nottinghamshire. Our Birth Family Support Workers can offer a variety of support including:

  • Explaining and supporting you through the process of adoption and what that means for you and your child – now and in the future.
  • Listening to you and how you feel about your child’s adoption.
  • Helping you to understand why your child was adopted.
  • Supporting with letterbox exchanges and future keeping in touch arrangements (where appropriate).

We also have our Letterbox support sessions which are being held across our region. For more information, or to book onto one of these sessions please give is a call on 0115 804 0555. Lines are open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, or you can send us an email to BirthFamilySupport@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk.

What happens when your child turns 18?

If you are hoping to make contact with an adopted relative over the age of 18, we would always recommend seeking support from a professional rather than conducting your own research. This is so the intermediary can advocate for both you and your relative’s well-being, establish healthy boundaries, and think through with you how you would like to sustain contact in the long-term that is comfortable for everyone. There are a number of options open to you depending on what year your relative was adopted. Contact our Birth Family Support Team to find out what options are available to you.

Contact us sticky noteOur support line is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (0115 804 0555). If we are unable to answer your call, please leave a voice message and someone will get back to you. Please be aware that at busy times it can take the team up to two working days to respond.

You can also email us on BirthFamilySupport@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk.

If you are a birth parent or family member who would like to access support, you can also self-refer Birth family support – referral form

On this page you can find a number of resources which we hope will help to support you.

PAC-UK presents: The missing piece - Messages for adoptive parents from birth parents

If you have received support from our team and would like to give us some feedback, please complete our evaluation form.

Here are some testimonies from some of those who have received support from our team:

“What a lovely birth parent meeting. Birth mum only got there purely because of the amount of time and effort you two have put into supporting her, (physically and emotionally).” (From a professional)

“Thank you so much for your support today. I really appreciate it.” (from a birth mum)

“The lady I have help me today was ***. She was so very helpful. I don’t think I would have wrote back if *** didn’t help me. Plus *** also helped me write a letter to my other daughter too.

I would really like *** to help me with future letters also please if she is still on your team.

Kind regards.” (from a birth father)