Donate Search Menu Learn about adoption Who can adopt There is no such thing as a typical adopter. Like every child, our adopters are different Get your information pack Our number one priority is finding the right match for a child – and for you We are looking for people who are warm and compassionate. People with flexibility and resilience to give a child a happy home. Criteria you'll need to meet Be at least 21. There’s no upper age limit. Have a spare room for your adopted child. Live near our London, Bristol or Birmingham offices. We recruit within a 50 miles radius of Bristol or Birmingham or an hour’s journey from London. Have been a UK resident for at least a year. Unsure about your circumstances? Talk to us about adopting Can I adopt if... I am LGBT I am having fertility treatment I already have children We'll talk to you about Your finances You don’t need to be “well off” but you will need to show you can support a child financially. Your relationships You can be single, married, cohabiting, in a civil partnership, widowed or divorced. Stability is essential, so we ask that, if you’re in a relationship, it’s been stable for at least two years. Your home It doesn’t matter whether you own or rent your home. But the child you adopt would need their own bedroom. Your health Your health is important. You’ll need to look after a child for a long time. Having a disability doesn’t stop you from adopting but it’s something we’ll talk about. If you smoke or vape, you won’t be able to adopt a child under five. We ask that adopters have stopped smoking or vaping for one year before we start an assessment. Your childcare experience It helps if you’ve looked after children before. This could be your own or other people's (for example, volunteering in a nursery, pre-school, primary school or playgroup). Don’t worry if you don’t have much experience, we can help you get some. Your availability You need to be around to support your child. Ideally, you’ll need to take six months off work when the child comes to live with you. For couples, the main carer will need to take this time off – or you can take shared adoption leave. Your pets Lots of our adopters have pets. We’ll just need to make sure that your pet isn’t a threat to a child, so we may ask for a vet’s report. Your criminal record We carry out police (DBS) checks on all applicants. You can’t adopt if you’ve been convicted of a criminal offence involving children, and other serious crimes may also disqualify you. But having a criminal record isn’t always a barrier – get in touch to find out more. Interested in adopting? Request your information pack or call us on 07921 404465 Get your info pack Share this page Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Copy link You may also like Learn about adoption Find out if you can adopt, how long the process is, and what support you’ll get from us Request an adoption information pack Fill out our form to learn more about adopting with Action for Children and speak to our team Being an adopter during lockdown 01 August 2020 "Are they settled in yet?": Zara's adoption story 21 October 2020 Start your adoption journey Request your adoption pack Safe and happy childhood Action for Children protects and supports children and young people, providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. Jobs Blog Newsletter Media centre Contact us Accessibility Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms and conditions Make a difference, help us change lives Donate now Follow us Registered address, 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford, WD18 8AG. Action for Children is a charity (1097940/SC038092) and a company limited by guarantee (England and Wales No. 04764232). © Action for Children 2021 We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website and improve our marketing. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. You can change your settings at any time. Cookies Settings