Sometimes, you need to talk to someone who has been there and done it and knows exactly what you're going through. Thanks to the goodwill and dedication of our fantastic adoption community, we can introduce you to people with this experience and expertise in adoption. Welcome to the Adoption Focus Buddy Scheme.
Valuable Peer-to-Peer Support
When you adopt with Adoption Focus, you'll have access to valuable peer-to-peer support through our Buddy Scheme. Our Buddies are experienced adopters who are happy to share their perspectives with adopters at an earlier stage in their journeys. They can offer you advice and strategies that have worked for them, or just provide a sympathetic ear for any concerns you may have.
How the Buddy Scheme Works
Our adoption support team can connect prospective adopters and adopters with more experienced adopters at any stage of the adoption process. They'll link you to a Buddy with the knowledge and background that matches your needs the best. Between you, you'll decide the best way to explore what you'd like advice on. You might have a one-off chat or a series of conversations with them over a period of weeks. Whatever it takes to help you out.
Our Buddies can offer advice on issues around a range of areas, such as:
- The early days of an adoption placement
- Challenging behaviour
- Adopting as a same-sex couple
- Bedtime difficulties
- Problems between brothers and sisters
As well as being dedicated and knowledgeable, our Buddies also receive professional training and are continuously supported by Adoption Focus.
Here's what our brilliant Buddies say about the role:
Brendan
The Buddy scheme is something I feel very passionate about. To have access to the experience and knowledge of someone who had been though the adoption process, is invaluable and can be a great source of comfort.
As a Buddy, it is wonderful to be able to help others and be able to ‘give something back’. We had a really good adoption journey and to be able to assist others on their journey is wonderful.
Ginny
After first-hand experience, we may be able to offer strategies that have worked for us or sometimes all it takes is for someone to say that what you are going through is completely normal.
It helps sometimes to understand why certain behaviour is happening and at other times it’s just nice to have a listening ear and reassurance that you are doing a good job!
Jonathan
As an adoptive parent, traditional advice on parenting techniques from friends and relatives, although well meaning, is often either ineffective or not appropriate for an adopted child who may well have suffered trauma as a result of their previous experiences. Behaviours can often be puzzling and solutions can be counter-intuitive. Having a buddy or mentor who has ‘been there’ is a helpful first line of support who can understand how you may be feeling and who may be able to offer suggestions.
Buddy Support through Adopterverse
In addition to our Buddy Scheme, as an adopter with Adoption Focus, you will be given access to Adopterverse. This is our unique, online space for adopters to connect, learn from and support each other and access useful resources from our adoption support team. Adopterverse users can can ask for support directly from other adopters on any aspect of adoption.
To find out more about our Buddy Scheme, please get in touch. If you’re an experienced adopter and you'd like to share your insights around any aspects of adoption we’d love to hear from you too.