ARC Adoption marks Big Adoption Day with information event in Sunderland

ARC Adoption is hosting its Big Adoption Day event at its office at the North East Business and Innovation Centre in Sunderland starting at 6pm on Wednesday, January 21.

For people unable to make the weekday evening event, the team is also hosting a Saturday event starting at 10am on January 24.

At both events, a parent will join the sessions to share their experience of adopting and help the team answer questions. Free places can be booked on ARC Adoption’s website.

There are 2,940 children are currently waiting to be adopted across England, of which almost half have been waiting more than 18 months since entering care*.

With 190 in the North East specifically too, there is an urgent need for more prospective adoptive parents to come forward to provide permanent, loving homes for these children.

Terry Fitzpatrick OBE, Director at ARC Adoption North East, said: “We are delighted to join our fellow voluntary adoption agencies on Big Adoption Day.

"It is a day for celebrating families that have come together through adoption as well as highlighting the ongoing need for more adoptive families for children in our area.

"Last year we supported 26 new families to adopt who have just spent their first Christmas’ with their children.

"In the North East in particular, there has been a growing disparity between people coming forward to adopt and the number of children in care requiring adoption, and this year we will be doing our upmost to reduce this, encouraging people to find out more about adopting and letting them know how we can support them through the process and ongoing, once their family is established.”

Richard and John Paul are parents who adopted a little girl with the help of ARC Adoption in 2021, and last year adopted for the second time.

They said: “We have been through the adoption process twice with ARC twice now.

"When we first met the team, we were given so much useful information, and everyone we met and interacted with from our initial interest onwards were so warm, welcoming and professional.

"During the second time, when we were hoping to a adopt our son, the additional help and guidance we received to help our daughter understand what was going on was invaluable.

“To anyone that is considering adoption we’d say go and attend an information event, ask some questions, and get as much information as you can.

"You’ll get a feeling if it is right for you. If you’re anything like us, it will be the best thing you’ve ever done.

"Thanks to ARC Adoption and the amazing team, we have our perfect little family, and we are forever grateful to them for this.”

VAAs are independent, not-for-profit organisations, offering a personalised service to adopters from all backgrounds.

They have a wealth of experience having placed thousands of children with adoptive families, particularly those who often wait the longest in care, including older children, those in sibling groups, and children from the global majority or with disabilities.

VAAs also provide all of their adoptive families with lifelong support, which is flexible and responsive to what families need, whenever they need it.

For more information about adopting with ARC Adoption North East and details of its Big Adoption Day event and others, visit https://www.arcadoptionne.org.uk/Event/big-adoption-day-information-event-in-sunderland-wednesday-21st-january-2026