Forced adoption and the need for lifelong support

The Government’s apology for historic forced adoption practices in England is a significant and long-overdue moment. For many of the mothers, adopted people and wider families affected, it comes after decades of grief, silence and unanswered questions.

An estimated half a million children were adopted in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976, many of them born to unmarried mothers. Not every adoption during this period was forced, but parliamentary inquiries and testimony from those affected have documented practices in which women were denied meaningful choice or did not give genuine and informed consent.

State bodies, medical professionals, charities and church organisations all played roles within the systems through which these practices occurred. Christian organisations ran mother and baby homes, moral welfare organisations and adoption agencies. The Church must therefore approach this history with honesty and humility, listening first to those whose lives were permanently changed.

Taking loss seriously

Scripture calls us to "rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12v15). Mourning with those who mourn requires more than acknowledging that something regrettable happened. It means taking seriously the depth of the loss, refusing to minimise people’s experiences and remaining present when the consequences continue long after the original injustice.

For many mothers, adopted people and wider family members, the effects of forced adoption did not end when an adoption was completed. They have lived for decades with grief, trauma and unanswered questions about their families and histories. Adopted people may have spent years trying to understand the circumstances of their adoption, access records, trace relatives or piece together their medical and personal histories. Some families were eventually reunited, while others have never had that opportunity.

An apology cannot restore the years that were lost or undo the harm caused, but it can publicly affirm that those affected should never have been treated as they were. That acknowledgement matters.

Lifelong support

It will mean little, however, if it is not followed by practical action. People affected by historic forced adoption should be able to access their records, receive specialist therapeutic support and find effective help when seeking information about, or contact with, members of their family. The responsibility for navigating complex systems should not continue to fall solely on those who have already carried the consequences for so long.

Today’s adoption system is different from the historic practices for which the Government has apologised. Modern adoption is governed by legislation centred on children’s welfare and protection, with decisions scrutinised by the family courts. Where a court concludes that a child cannot safely remain within their birth family and that adoption is necessary, adoption can provide security, stability and enduring family relationships.

But recognising that difference should not prevent us from learning a wider lesson from the past, that adoption is not a single event with a clear ending. An adoption order may establish a new legal family, but it does not erase a person’s history or remove the questions they may have about identity, loss and belonging. The significance of being adopted can change as someone grows older, forms relationships or seeks to understand more about their past.

Hearing from those impacted

We heard this clearly through the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence’s Adoptee Voices inquiry, for which Home for Good provides the joint secretariat. More than 300 adopted young people aged 13 to 25 shared their experiences of identity, education, health and wellbeing.

The inquiry concerns a different generation and adoption system, but its findings reinforce that adoption is lifelong.

82% of respondents said adopted young people are not well understood or supported by society or government. Around one in three did not feel confident in their identity or fully understand their own story, while 92% believed specialist help is needed for adopted people to understand their past.

One young person told the inquiry: "It felt to me that once I was adopted, I wasn’t a priority anymore … I wasn’t having reviews and lots got missed."

Half of respondents aged 18 to 25 said they did not feel part of a community that understands adoption. 51% wanted mental health support but could not find help that worked for them. These findings show why support cannot end when an adoption order is made or when an adopted person reaches adulthood.

Where to go from here?

The inquiry calls for adoptee voices to shape policy and services, including through a national young people’s adoption forum. It also recommends adoptee-led spaces, better understanding in schools and colleges, and permanent, sustainable funding for adoption support. These principles should form part of a broader commitment to adopted people of every generation.

Churches have a particular responsibility in responding to that call. They cannot change the past or replace specialist services, but they can acknowledge their historic role, listen to those affected and advocate for support. They can become communities where adopted people and birth relatives are able to speak honestly about grief, identity and belonging.

The Government’s apology should not be the end of the national response to historic forced adoption – instead it should mark the beginning of a sustained commitment to truth, support and repair. If we have learned anything from those affected, it is that adoption does not cease to matter with the passing of time. Our willingness to listen, understand and offer support must be lifelong too.