THE Westmorland Gazette today launches a campaign to help find permanent homes for dozens of children waiting to be adopted.

With children over the age of three waiting on average six months longer to find adoptive families, The Gazette, alongside Cumbria County Council, is asking people to consider adopting an older child, as well as those of the younger generation.

The campaign - You Could Be Their Someone - recognises that local families may be able to offer the stability that children requiring adoption require.

Many people associate adoption with infants, but families are needed for children of all ages. Nearly half of the 70 children waiting for adoption in Cumbria are between the ages of three and seven years old, with some, often parts of sibling groups, up to ten.

“When most people make the decision to have a family they are thinking about having a baby," explained Cllr Anne Burns, the council's cabinet member for children’s services. "If this doesn’t happen for them, they tend to come to adoption with the view to adopt a child as young as possible.

“What we’re asking is for families to be open-minded about the ages of children that they would consider adopting. Older children deserve to find a family just as much as any other, and the fact they tend to wait longer is through no fault of theirs."

Many children who are waiting to be adopted have experienced inconsistent care and at worst, traumatic incidents. Depending on their age, they may have some recollection of their birth family and have both positive and negative feelings about them. They need parents who are able to provide stability and help them to put their experiences into context.

“Our whole approach is about matching the needs to the child with the ability of the adopter to meet those needs, so we’re really keen to hear from people who have experience of older children, either through work or because their own children have grown up," said Cllr Burns.

“Our team provides excellent support to adopters, anyone coming forward can be assured we’ll be with you all the way.”

Drop-in events to find out more about adopting will take place at The Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth between 10am-2pm on Saturday, March 21, Kendal Fire Station between 10am-2pm on Saturday, March 28 and Coronation Hall, Ulverston, between 6pm-8pm on Monday, March 30.

Visit www.cumbria.gov.uk/adoption or call 01539 713312 to find out more.