Turn a child`s life around during National Adoption Week

Shoppers at The Lanes in Carlisle will be treated to a glimpse through Alice in Wonderland's Looking Glass as they are met by the March Hare and Mad Hatter as part of a recruitment drive for new adoptive parents during National Adoption Week.

Members of Cumbria County Council’s Adoption Recruitment Team will be dressed up and out in force from Monday 31 October to Friday 4 November handing out leaflets and providing more information to shoppers on how they could possibly help turn a child’s life around by becoming an adoptive parent.

The recruitment drive will move around the county during National Adoption Week stopping at the following places:

Monday 31 October – Carlisle, The Lanes Shopping Centre

Tuesday 1 November – Penrith, Devonshire Arcade

Wednesday 2 November – Kendal, Westmorland Shopping Centre

Thursday 3 November – Keswick, Packhorse Court Shopping Centre

Friday 4 November – Barrow, Indoor Market

In Cumbria, there are currently around 53 children of all ages, sibling groups and children with disabilities that want to be part of a loving caring family. This number has grown significantly and the county council’s adoption service is looking to recruit a number of adopters. They welcome people from all backgrounds, married, unmarried, single and same sex couples as long as they can offer a stable and secure permanent home for children who need one.

Councillor Anne Burns, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for children’s social care, said: "We are always in need of new adoptive families so I’d really encourage anybody who is thinking about adopting a child or would simply like to find out more, to get in touch with us."

Adoptive families can rely on the assistance of the county council’s dedicated adoption support team - which was rated as ‘outstanding’ in the Ofsted inspection of 2011.

Extensive information on adoption and advice for people thinking about adopting a child can be found on Cumbria County Council’s website; www.cumbria.gov.uk/adoption or by calling 01539 713312.

The county council's Adoption Team have also made a short video which highlights the value of belonging to a family - to view the clip visit www.cumbria.gov.uk/adoption