Our Buddy Scheme sees adopted parents getting advice and support from more experienced adopters. It’s the goodwill and dedication of our fantastic adoption community that allows us to provide this resource as part of our adoption support.
We link our experienced adopters with adopters at an earlier stage in the process to offer advice and support. Our Buddies 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.
Accessing our Buddy Scheme
If at any point you feel like you might benefit from peer to peer support, please get in touch. Equally, if you’re an experienced adopter and feel you could share your insight around the adoption assessment process, introductions, post-placement/order or adoption support services, we’d love to hear from you.
Visit our volunteer with us page to become a buddy with Adoption Focus