‘Worrying decline’ in families approved to adopt a child, charity warns

04th August, 2026 | News

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Shortage of Adoptive Families Leaves Thousands of Children Waiting in England

A children’s charity has raised concerns over a significant decline in the number of families approved to adopt, warning that thousands of children in England remain without permanent homes.

Recent figures covering April to December 2025 show that 3,010 children were waiting to be matched with adoptive families. Alarmingly, about half of them had already spent 18 months or more in care before finding a potential adoptive home.

During the same period, only 1,350 approved adoptive families were available for matching, creating a substantial gap between the number of children needing families and the number of prospective adopters.

Coram, the UK’s oldest children’s charity, described the situation as deeply concerning, noting that many vulnerable children continue to face long waits for the stability of a permanent family.

The charity also pointed to research indicating that 23% of people would consider adoption, suggesting there is considerable potential to increase the number of adopters through better awareness and support.

Coram’s Chief Executive, Carol Homden, said adoption offers children lasting stability and positive life outcomes while bringing immense joy to families. She urged the government to strengthen support services and encourage more people to come forward to adopt.

The UK government has already consulted on improvements to adoption support services and is expected to announce further measures aimed at making adoption more accessible and better supported for families.