When we began exploring the path to adoption, we knew it would be both challenging and rewarding. What we didn’t anticipate was how much we would grow — as individuals, as a couple, and eventually, as a family.
We are Tracey and Kerry, a couple deeply rooted in family, education, and children’s mental health. Our journey to adopt a child from The Gambia has been driven by a lifelong desire to parent, and more importantly, to provide a safe, loving, and joyful home for a child who needs it.
From the very beginning, the Yorkshire Adoption Agency (YAA) has been a lifeline. Their professionalism, empathy, and genuine care shaped our experience and helped us prepare in every conceivable way. Our social worker, brought compassion and clarity to every meeting. Her deep understanding of the adoption process and belief in us as prospective parents were empowering.
Through YAA’s thorough assessment and training process, we explored everything from attachment and trauma-informed care to cultural heritage planning. The agency went far beyond ticking boxes — they cultivated an environment that helped us reflect, learn, and understand the lifelong commitment we were making.
We also received guidance on how to maintain a child’s identity and connection to their birth culture. From attending culturally specific events to building connections with The Gambian community, and integrating representation into our home through books, toys, food, and friendships — we are committed to raising our daughter, Mary, with love for her heritage.
One of the most powerful parts of our preparation was compiling our Learning Portfolio. We filled it with training certificates, reflective journals, and plans to support our child’s mental health, education, and emotional resilience. YAA never treated these steps as formality — they encouraged us to weave them into our lives.
And this support didn’t end when the paperwork did. From cultural connection plans to guidance on adoption leave and schooling, YAA offered a holistic network of support — and they remain a part of our family’s village.
Adoption isn’t a destination; it’s a lifelong journey. There have been moments of vulnerability, reflection, and joy. We are proud of how we’ve grown together — how we’ve laughed, cried, learned, and leaned on each other. Through every step, Yorkshire Adoption Agency stood beside us, ensuring that we, and more importantly our child, are truly ready for the path ahead.
To anyone considering adoption — especially inter country adoption — know this: you are not alone. With the right agency, like YAA, and a heart full of patience and purpose, your dream of becoming a family can become your reality.
Kerry, Tracey & Mary