In this special Black History Month episode, we’re joined by Leroy to talk about adoption within the Black community why representation matters, the challenges that still exist, and how community and culture play a vital role in a child’s sense of identity and belonging. It’s an honest, heartfelt conversation Leroy address the barriers the black community may have to adoption and what it really means to create a safe, loving, stable family. If this conversation inspires you to learn mor...

In this episode, the team at Adoption Focus discusses the recent cuts to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) and what they mean for adoptive families. Despite funding being reduced and introduced with little notice, the team reassures listeners that support from Adoption Focus remains unaffected. They explain the impact on therapy access, how families can continue to get help, and the importance of reaching out no matter how big or small the issue.&nbs...

In this episode, we sit down with Sunny, a Sikh mother whose path to adoption led her to embrace a love that transcends cultural boundaries. With remarkable honesty and warmth, Sunny shares her journey from the initial doubts and fears about how her decision might be received within her community, to the powerful support she found along the way. She opens up about what it means to honour her Sikh faith while welcoming a child from a different heritage, and how this experience ha...

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Jonathan, a father who shares his family's powerful adoption journey from the early conversations and assessment process to welcoming his son James home and navigating life together into adulthood. With honesty and warmth, Jonathan reflects on the challenges, triumphs, and lasting impact of adoption. Whether you're exploring adoption or well along the path, his story offers comfort, insight, and inspiration. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you h...

In this episode of Adoption in Focus, Lisa sits down with Amy and Andy, a couple with four birth children who chose to grow their family through adoption. They share their unique journey of adopting their youngest son at 18 months old, offering heartfelt insights into the adoption process, how they supported their birth children throughout, and what it means to parent a child they have transracially adopted. We hope this episode encourages reflection on how we can all celebrate and ch...

In this episode, we're joined by a brilliant same-sex couple who speak candidly about their journey to becoming dads, from the first steps in the adoption process, the highs and lows, what family life looks like for them now, and their love for their son. They tell their story with equal parts of honesty and humour in a conversation that's funny, moving and refreshingly real.

In our latest episode Leigh is joined by Sarah, an adoptive mom of two who talks to us about her adoption experiences, right from the moment she decided to adopt to now being used as a bouncy castle by her two children. Sarah paints an honest picture of the adoption process and parenting, full of ups and downs but the rewards endless.

In this episode, Leigh is joined by Miles, who you might know from season two of The Traitors. Miles and his husband adopted two children with Adoption Focus, and here he reflects thoughtfully and insightfully on his family’s journey to adoption. Among the areas covered are, his experience of the adoption process and family finding, support from family and elsewhere, the role of ethnicity, culture and identity in adoption, and parenting two daughters as a gay couple. If you have any questio...

During this episode Leigh is joined by a set of Grandparents who tell us all about their experience of the adoption process, how they supported their daughter throughout and what it was like becoming grandparents to an adopted child. If you've adopted with Adoption Focus and would like to speak about your experiences, please email us at podcast@adoption-focus.org.uk. If you have any requests for podcast topics you’d like us to cover, we'd love to get those too.

In this episode, Lisa is joined by one of our adopters to talk about their positive, personal experience around birth family contact. Their discussion covers the benefits and challenges of contact, preconceptions, worries and what their children's experiences were like. Adoption Focus adopters with queries or concerns about contact can speak to our adoption support team anytime. If you have any questions about this episode or would be interested in joining us on a future podcast yoursel...

In this episode, Leigh is joined by adoptee, poet, writer, African drummer, and public speaker Michelle “Mother” Hubbard. Michelle shares her experience of transracial adoption, exploring her heritage, finding her birth family and forming her own identity. Michelle is performing her show “Did I mention I’m adopted?” at the Nottingham Playhouse on Friday 25th October, please go along if you can. https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/did-i-mention-im-adopted/

For this episode we are joined by Janette who was adopted as a young child. She talks about what adoption means to her, how it has impacted her life positively and what it was like growing up knowing she was adopted.If you've adopted with Adoption Focus and would like to speak about your experiences, please email us at podcast@adoption-focus.org.uk. If you have any requests for podcast topics you’d like us to cover, we'd love to get those too.

In this episode Leigh talks to Natalie about the adoption process, early permanence and contact between siblings. "They were amazing brothers straight away. You see them together and think well, that's just how it was meant to be.""Being open to that help, support and advice and note being embarrassed to ask for it, to us is massive.""It is amazing, it is hard work, but it is amazing, we feel really privileged to be adopters. To be able to be part of their life."If you've adopted with Adoptio...

We were so lucky to be joined by Jodie who adopted a brother and sister with her partner through Adoption Focus. Jodie talks about the highs and lows of their journey through the adoption process and how proud she is of the bond her children now have. If you've adopted with Adoption Focus and would like to speak about your experiences, please email us at podcast@adoption-focus.org.uk. If you have any requests for podcast topics you’d like us to cover, we'd love to get those too.

In this episode, Lisa speaks to Nathan who adopted his children with Adoption Focus 10 years ago. Nathan reflects candidly on his journey as a single adopter, covering areas including expectations versus reality, challenges faced, achievements, triggers, enjoying family life, and his pride in his children as they grow up into teenagers. If you've adopted with Adoption Focus and would like to speak about your experiences, please email us at podcast@adoption-focus.org.uk. If you...

We were so lucky for Adoption Focus’ Laura to be joined by Judd and Matt one of our Adoption Focus same sex couples for a fantastic podcast episode about their adoption journey, the adoption support they are receiving and parenting with PACE. If you would like to find out how to access our fantastic adoption support or if you’d like any more information on different topics please get in touch: podcast@adoption-focus.org.uk.

In this episode Leigh talks to Sophie, an adoptee and one of our panel member's. She talks to us about panel and her personal experiences of adoption including the importance of life story work and supporting our families with contact.

In the first episode, Leigh is joined by Adoption Focus CEO Anna Sharkey. Anna gives a fascinating insight into her background and her personal and professional experiences of adoption, talks about the history and current situation with the voluntary adoption sector, and offers advice for adopters and those considering starting the process.