National Children's Charity seeks
adoptive parents at UCKG
Released: 08.05.06

 

A national charity that helps some of the UK's most vulnerable children has turned to the UCKG HelpCentre to help in overcoming a grave shortage of adoptive parents from the black, Asian and mixed-heritage communities in London.

At the request of the charity, representatives of NCH recently met with Bishop Renato Cardoso, who heads UCKG in the UK. The aim was to see how members of the church's multi-cultural congregation could be informed about the urgent need for potential adopters and encouraged to come forward as part of the NCH's London Black Families Project.

The project was set up to recruit, prepare and approve black, Asian and mixed-race prospective adopters in and around London, and match them with black children growing up in care.

The result of the meeting is that UCKG will work with NCH to help raise awareness of why it is important that people of black, Asian and mixed-race descent should consider adoption and what is involved in taking on a child that cannot grow up with its birth family for some reason.

Bishop Cardoso said: “There is no doubt that a lot of children are suffering and we would like to help in changing their lives for the better. I am delighted to be inviting NCH representatives to talk with members of the congregation at our headquarters church in Finsbury Park after Sunday services in the near future.

“It does not matter if it's church members or their friends and families who decide to go ahead and explore the possibility of adoption, we will be happy to support them through the rigorous selection process with counselling and prayers. What is important is that more potential adopters come forward from black, Asian and mixed-race backgrounds.

“We recognise that many children needing adoption have been abused in some way, neglected or deprived of love, and are angry or confused about what is happening to them. It is good that NCH appreciates the benefits of placing such children in loving, stable Christian families with sound moral values.”

Senior Practitioner Amuda Oko-Osi of NCH said, “It is good to be working with the UCKG HelpCentre. Children need homes where they can grow up with an understanding of their own cultural backgrounds. While all potential adopters have to go through a rigorous assessment process, we would like people to know that it is enjoyable as well as challenging, and that being an adoptive parent is highly rewarding.”

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