Donation from Exeter-based Chartered Accountants help train adoptive families
A donation from Haines Watts Chartered Accountants Exeter to their Charity of the Year, Families for Children Adoption Agency (FFC), has enabled the worthy cause to run two preparation courses for potential adopters. Haines Watts, based in Southernhay, raised over £2,000 for FFC through various activities and networking events over the 12-month period. This included an event to launch FFC as their new Charity of the Year held at Exeter Audi with sponsored Exeter Chiefs player Craig Mitchell during National Adoption Week.
Ally Colton, Fundraising & Publicity Coordinator for Families for Children Adoption, says “We are hugely grateful to Haines Watts’ staff members for this donation, which has enabled us to run two preparation courses for potential adopters to begin the process of completing their forever family.”
The training courses prepare prospective adopters for the challenges they face in parenting an adoptive child, with speakers including birth parents, adult adoptees and those who have adopted through Families for Children, who work across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. “A total of 35 potential adopters attended these two courses and following completion both the prospective adopters and their social worker will write a report which forms part of the Prospective Adopters’ Report - the legal document produced by Families for Children which goes before an Adoption Panel for official approval to adopt,” explains Ally.
Figures for adoptions in England show, adoption statistics still make sad reading and courses like this will become even more important going forward with the Government’s recently announced proposals for reforms to the adoption system in the Children and Families Bill.
Claire from Devon, who with her husband, Julian, adopted three siblings, says: “The preparation course with Families for Children enabled us to explore the issues around adoption in more depth. The sessions which involved talks by adoptees and experienced adopters were particularly memorable and, at times, very emotional. We really benefited from the opportunity to discuss things with the other applicants and the social workers. As adopters you need a lot of support; the friendships we made during the course have continued and form a crucial part of our support network now.”
Actress Caroline Quentin and Patron of Families for Children, says: “Haines Watts is giving such valuable support to Families For Children by making them their charity of the year. My association with Families For Children is something I am hugely proud of and I would like to say a big, personal thank you to everyone at Haines Watts.”
www.hwca.com/accountants-exeter/
