CVAA UK

16/07/2026

Yesterday VAAs from across the UK launched a new 'Advice from Adopters' guide exploring Early Permanence as a route to parenthood.

Drawing on the lived experiences of EP adopters, the guide shares honest, first-hand insight into the challenges, emotions and rewards of the journey, helping more people understand how they can give children the best possible start in life.

Find out more and download the guide via our website here:

09/07/2026

CVAA UK issued a response last week to the government’s apology on historic forced adoption practices. This has been campaigned for over many years by those personally affected at Movement for an Adoption Apology, and whilst nothing can undo what happened, this does mark an important acknowledgement of the harm done.

CVAA UK members Coram and Family Action through Coram BAAF and @ PAC-UK will be involved in some of the support being made available immediately.

We champion and support voluntary adoption agencies in their life-changing work by advocating for them in national forums and drawing on their vast experience of adoption to facilitate the sharing of best practice across the adoption system. We create space for professionals in the voluntary adoptio...

04/06/2026

Don’t miss our next FREE Short & Smart lunchtime session!
Adoption in 2026 – Lessons from research and lived experience
📅 Thursday 2nd July
🕛 12:00–1:00pm
💻 Online

Join us for an engaging 1-hour session with CVAA's CEO, Satwinder Sandhu. Having chaired both the 2026 EurAdopt International Conference in Malta and the CoramBAAF Adoption Conference, Satwinder will share the key lessons emerging from these events, explore the future of adoption and the needs of today’s children and families, and reflect on nearly 30 years in social work and CVAA UK’s perspective on adoption in 2026.
Book your place here: https://bit.ly/4ubMfzd

19/05/2026

There’s still time to take advantage of the introductory discount for CVAA UK’s new on-demand training platform!

Designed to fit around busy practice workloads, the platform offers flexible, expert-led learning that can be accessed anytime, anywhere — with the ability to pause, revisit, and reflect at your own pace.

Our first course, Blended Families: Parenting Birth and Adopted Children Together, is delivered by sector expert Jan Way MBE and provides 2.5 hours of CPD through engaging, reflective learning.
Introductory Offer: 20% OFF all course prices
Use code: CUT20
Valid until: 31st May 2026

Course prices:
• £59 CVAA members
• £69 subscribers
• £79 non-members

More affordable on-demand courses will be added over time, covering a wide range of core practice topics.
Access the platform here:

This is the perfect place to start. Choose a course that best reflects your professional needs and start learning!Make sure you choose the correct price for your course based on your membership type. If your are not a member of the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies, please select training f...

14/05/2026

We’re still in May, but we’re excited to share our next practice webinar at CVAA

🗓️ Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Supporting Discouraged Adoptive Parents on Thursday 18th June

Co-delivered with Lisa Biggs, Senior Adoption Practitioner at Adoption Focus, this interactive practice session is designed for professionals supporting families who may be approaching, or currently experiencing, blocked care or compassion fatigue.
The session offers a clear and reflective exploration of how these states arise, why they can affect both parents and professionals, and how we might respond to them with understanding and appropriate intervention.

👉 Interested? Book now: https://bit.ly/3RFbSeb

11/05/2026

Last week, CVAA submitted its response to the Government’s ‘Adoption support that works for all’ consultation on behalf of our 14 voluntary adoption agency members in England.

Our response sets out our views on each proposal alongside 7 core principles we believe should underpin effective adoption support. It also recognises the financial pressures facing children’s social care, and therefore is framed around the central question: what is the most effective use of available resources to deliver positive outcomes for adopted children, families and adult adoptees? On this basis, we have not supported proposals that risk diverting funding away from essential specialist therapeutic support for children with complex needs, which we see as the overriding priority for reform.

Read our full response here: https://bit.ly/4u3t9vV

We’re pleased to have had this opportunity to contribute, and now we need the government to truly listen, take stock, and be unafraid to change direction where necessary.

We champion and support voluntary adoption agencies in their life-changing work by advocating for them in national forums and drawing on their vast experience of adoption to facilitate the sharing of best practice across the adoption system. We create space for professionals in the voluntary adoptio...

29/04/2026

There’s still time to book onto next week’s expert-led Practice Programme training session: From Contact to Connection: Navigating Culture Change in Adoption Practice
🗓 Thursday 7th May | ⏰ 10am–4pm
Co-delivered with Vicky Swift from Adoption England and Dr Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE FRSA h.c

Global research consistently shows that preserving links to a child’s birth history is highly positive. These connections are vital for adopted and care experienced people as they form their identity and transition to independence. Failing to maintain these links can cause identity struggles, unanswered questions about heritage and medical history, and emotional difficulties during major life events.

This expert-led session will give social workers and managers the tools to create effective, ongoing relationship plans that align with this new cultural standard.
👉 Find out more and book here: https://bit.ly/4t8qhwP

28/04/2026

CVAA Scotland – representing five VAAs (Barnardo's, Kibble Adoption, Scottish Adoption and Fostering, SACS Adoption - St Andrew's Children's Society & St Margaret's Adoption Society) - has published its 'Keeping the Promise for Adopted Children: CVAA Scotland Manifesto 2026'.
The manifesto sets out the sector’s shared priorities for reform and modernisation of adoption in Scotland, calling on the next Scottish Government to take urgent action to improve outcomes for adopted children, young people and adults, and their families.
The five priority areas for action are:
• Recognising the value of adoption
• Tackling delays for children awaiting permanence decisions
• Making high-quality, timely support available for all
• Supporting adopted children’s identity needs
• Acknowledging the lifelong impact of trauma.
Read the manifesto here:

We champion and support voluntary adoption agencies in their life-changing work by advocating for them in national forums and drawing on their vast experience of adoption to facilitate the sharing of best practice across the adoption system. We create space for professionals in the voluntary adoptio...

23/04/2026

CVAA UK has launched a new on‑demand training platform, providing a flexible and accessible way for professionals to undertake high‑quality learning at a time and pace that suits their workload.

Adding to our hugely popular Practice Programme, the new on‑demand training allows learners to access expert‑led content wherever they are, pause and return to sessions as needed, and revisit key learning points. This approach supports meaningful professional development without the need to attend live events, making training easier to balance alongside practice responsibilities.

We are excited that our first on‑demand course explores Blended Families: Parenting Birth and Adopted Children Together. The course is delivered by experienced sector expert Jan Way MBE and offers 2.5 hours of CPD through engaging, reflective learning.

Course pricing:
£59 for CVAA members
£69 for subscribers
£79 for non‑members

To mark the launch of the platform, an introductory 20% discount is available on the course price. Please use Discount Code: CUT20 which is valid until: 31 May 2026.

Further on‑demand courses will be added over time, covering a wide range of core practice topics. All courses are at affordable prices to support wider access across the sector.

You can access the platform here:

22/04/2026

Another day, another Outstanding Ofsted result 👏
Barnardo's Adoption North England has been rated Outstanding in all areas, with inspectors highlighting exceptional adopter experiences, strong parent-child relationships, and life-changing outcomes driven by consistent care and love. Strengths include therapeutic parenting support, effective work with birth families, robust safeguarding, and a child-centred approach that enhances children’s life chances through stable, nurturing placements.

This inspection report and recognition covers all five services below:
• Barnardo’s Adoption North England
• Barnardo’s Adoption Midlands & South West
• Barnardo’s Adoption London, East & South East
• Barnardo’s Making Connections
• Barnardo’s CAFIS
A fantastic achievement and well done to everyone involved!
You can read the full report here: https://bit.ly/4sKoe1L