Hi, I’m Sue and I’m likely to be the first person at the agency that you will speak with about your wish to adopt.
I know how daunting it can be picking up the phone to ring or by sending your email but I’m here to try and make adoption easier and more accessible to you.
I enjoy my role and its lovely speaking to such a diverse range of people from single people, same sex couples, people of differing religions and nationalities to heterosexual couples all with the same goal – to become a family.
One of my opening questions to you is ‘What has brought you to adoption?’
This opens up a huge range of reasons, some of these may be some people sadly IVF hasn’t worked for them, others have chosen adoption as their route to creating their family, while some wish to add another child or children to their existing family.
The reasons people come to adoption are also varied and everyone has their own interesting story.
I love how the conversations can flow once we start talking and once someone starts to open up I am able to reassure them that they are listened to and will be supported throughout their journey should they choose Yorkshire Adoption Agency as their partner for creating their family.
It often feels like we’re talking as friends even though we have never met in person.
That’s the joy of my role, knowing I have helped someone make an informed decision about whether adoption is right for them, either now or in the future.
I understand that people need time to digest all the information and am always open to having further discussions at any time to clarify any information or concerns they may have.
My days are never the same, no two stories are alike and everyone’s adoption journey is different and that’s just how it should be. With the support of Yorkshire Adoption Agency new families are created.
While I am usually there for you right at the very beginning of your journey – I am also involved near the end too!
One of my favourite roles is organising the events for our adopters and children. We hold events for the younger children four times a year, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and for the older children, 3 times a year.
I love coming up with new themes for our events!
we’ve had a teddy bears picnic
teddy bear picnic feedback
a winter wonderland
Winter party 2024 Louise Sally Sarah Suzie Leonie
and a circus skills workshop, to name but a few.
Sue and Sue at our circus theme children’s event
We recently hired a whole play center for a farmyard themed event!
The children love it as they are playing with adopted children like themselves. Their parents love it as they can talk to other parents who ‘get it’ and they don’t have to explain their children’s behaviour.
In the summer months we have our annual picnic.
The picnic is a fabulous event for adopters to bring along their family and friends. Its wonderful to see everyone having a good time, playing games and relaxing; as much as is possible with children around!
As for the older children, my colleague Sally and I have taken them ten pin bowling, to the cinema and a trampoline park, which was great fun! We are bowling again this summer and have creative workshops planned in the autumn, so watch this space!
It’s a real joy watching the children blossom over the years of being with their families. I personally have been watching this for the past 10 years and it still gives me such a buzz watching these children develop to become such wonderful young people with their lives ahead of them.
Our events are not only fun for the children but a great opportunity for adopters to mix, talk about their experiences and get support from someone who has probably been there and come out the other side!
If you get the opportunity please book yourselves onto one of the events and see for yourself how much fun they are.
10 year celebratory poem