A COUNCIL is urging those considering adopting to take the plunge and sign up.

Next week (w/c October 19) is National Adoption Week and the Southend Adoption Service is taking the opportunity to encourage potential adopters to start the process.

Southend’s councillor for children and learning, Anne Jones, is reminding the public of the important role adoptive families play in the lives of so many young children.

She said: “Adoption is a vital way to give children the stable, loving home they may have missed out on earlier.

“Sometimes people who would love to adopt, mistakenly rule themselves out because they fear they do not meet the official criteria, but we would strongly encourage them to take another look.

“This year, National Adoption Week especially features the need to find families for sibling groups and older children above the age of four who continue to be the ones who wait.”

To be eligible to adopt, a person must be older than 21, commit to a medical, provide four references and disclose any criminal offences.

The council is keen to impress that there is no upper age limit though, having a disability does not exclude you and that you do not have to be married or in a civil partnership to adopt.

Joanne and Gabrielle, of Southend, fulfilled their dream of having a large family when they adopted three siblings in May, 2014.

Joanne said: “We both came from big families so we’ve always wanted lots of children.

“When we first met them we saw their beaming smiles, but we know now how scared and nervous they actually were. “It was challenging at first because we had to get used to having children in our life and adapt to a new routine, but one year on and we’re completely settled and have seen all three of them really grow as individual personalities.

“Potential adoptive parents tend to only consider one child, but adopting three children for us has been extremely rewarding – it’s so important for people to consider both older children and sibling groups.”

To find out more about adopting fill out an inquiry form at www.southend.gov.uk/info/200443/adoption and attend an Adoption Information Event at the Civic Centre.

The events are on Thursday, October 22, Monday, November 23, and Wednesday, December 16.

To reserve a place call 01702 212938 or email adoption@southend.gov.uk