International adoption

The receiving country must establish that:

• The adoptive parents are eligible and suitable
• They have been counselled
• The child will be authorised to enter and live with them in their home country

Adopting a child in the UK

There are currently more than 4,000 British children in care who need to find homes, but, according to figures from the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, around 40 per cent never do. Adopting a child in this country involves thorough checks (including police checks) to safeguard children, plus counselling, preparation and assessment to ensure adopters fully understand the commitment they will be making.

Adoption is a lengthy process whether you do so in the UK or abroad. Couples mostly want babies, not older children, and there are only so many to go around. The growing number of single parents, an increase in abortions and a falling birth rate all mean that, compared to 30 years ago, there are fewer babies available for adoption. So when we see celebrities seemingly adopting at speed while `normal' people are painstakingly picking their way through the proper channels, it understandably grates.

Holmes says, `All decisions about adoption must be made on a case by case basis and must reflect the best interests of each and every child.' He continues, `There are no easy answers and we must surely encourage more people to think about what they can do for vulnerable children, whether they are at home or abroad.'