Adoption North West has launched an inspiring new campaign, “Nobody Knows Me Better,” to raise awareness about the urgent need for adopters willing to provide loving homes for sibling groups across the North West. Caritas Care is proud to be a partner in this initiative, highlighting the importance of keeping brothers and sisters together in adoption.
There is an urgent need for adopters for brothers and sisters. As of January 31, 2025, adoption statistics in the North West reveal that:
374 children are currently waiting for adoptive families.
145 of these children (39%) are part of a sibling group.
On average, children in sibling groups wait an additional seven months before being placed in a permanent home. These children have often faced difficult experiences, and for many, their brothers and sisters have been their only constants. Keeping them together can provide much-needed emotional stability and security.
Many prospective adopters worry that adopting brothers and sisters might be too challenging due to space or financial constraints. However, support (both practical and financial) is available to help adoptive parents successfully welcome sibling groups into their families.
Sarah Johal MBE, National Adoption Strategic Lead at Adoption England, emphasizes the importance of this initiative:
“Keeping siblings together permanently is really important for their sense of identity, and helps them to feel safe and settle more quickly into their new home. Many of these children have been through difficult experiences and for some, they have been the only constants in each other’s lives. We hope that this campaign encourages more people to open up their hearts and homes to adopting a sibling group.”
Real Stories from Adoptive Families
To bring the message to life, the campaign shares real experiences from families who have adopted brothers and sisters.
Rachael and Paul, who adopted three children, reflect on their journey:
“We had said from the beginning that we would like siblings. Paul and I both have siblings – he is one of three and I am one of four. We said initially we would like two siblings, and then possibly come back to have a third in a couple of years’ time. We ended up going from zero to three children very quickly!”
Arfan and Sadia adopted three brothers and describe their experience as life-changing:
“Adopting our three beautiful boys has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. Even though they came to us at different times, their bond is nothing short of magical. They have their own unique personalities and they love each other unconditionally.”
Martin and Mel became parents when their children were 6 and 3. The siblings had been living in separate foster placements, but adoption brought them back together:
“The main thing that we really liked is knowing that the siblings would have each other. Whatever they’d been through in getting to this stage, they’d done it together, and that was so important. We thought that it might help them settle.”
An Adopted Adult’s Perspective
Adopted adult Dez Derry also supports the campaign, sharing his personal experience:
“The odds were stacked against me and my brothers when we were up for adoption in the 80s. We were of Indian-Sikh heritage, there were three of us, and I was older. Statistically, we had little to no chance of being adopted at all, let alone together. My brothers and I owe everything to our parents who took us on when nobody else would so that we could live our best lives without the added anguish and trauma of being separated at a really vulnerable time of our lives.”
Who Can Adopt?
The Adoption North West campaign aims to dispel myths about who can adopt. If you’re considering adoption, you should know that:
You can be single, living with a partner, married, or divorced.
You can be from any ethnic or religious background.
You can identify as LGBTQ+.
You can be a homeowner or live in rented accommodation.
You can be employed, unemployed, or retired.
You can be starting your family or growing your family.
The “Nobody Knows Me Better” campaign also features a powerful animation using real voices of adopted siblings. Watch the animation here
