We were delighted to give Adoption Matters £500 in order to for them to be able to fund a children and young peoples choir which unites their community of adopted families.
Adoption Matters, headquartered in Chester, has been finding loving families for children who need them and supporting adopter families since 1947.
Adoption is often a very personal journey. Many adopted children do not want to share their story with their peers as adoption is, unfortunately, still very misunderstood. However, sometimes for children and young people keeping their adoption and early life experiences private can cause them anxiety, a lack of self-worth and can make them feel very different to their peers, which can impact their mental health.
Adoption Matters runs many events in order to tackle this, for example they deliver adoption awareness training to schools and education professionals. The children and young people’s choir is another event the centre offers to their adopter families. The session is more than just a choir – it is a fun and safe space where adopted children and young people can not only learn to sing but also mix freely and openly with other adopted children, who quickly become friends. Whilst the children take part in the choir, adoptive parents can get together to share their feelings and support each other over a cuppa! This funding allowed the choir to launch again after the COVID pandemic with 7 adopted children benefitting from it.
One parent said their child “looks forward to each one and asks regularly when the next session is. The choir leader is lovely and is brilliant at getting the children involved.”
Annie O’Neill, the Adoption Matters Fundraising and Relationship Manager comments “We were absolutely delighted to have been awarded this grant to help re-ignite our children’s choir.”
“This provides a community space for children to come together in a safe environment, learn to sing and record songs whilst also providing a chance for our adoptive parents to meet up and chat with other parents.”
To find out more about Adoption Matters, visit: www.adoptionmatters.org
