Barnado’s: Race currently ‘barrier’ to adoption

Anne Marie Carrie, Barnardo’s chief executive said of the new guidelines on adoptions:

“With adoption levels reaching a new low, today’s news is a triumph for all of the children from BME [black, minority, ethnic] backgrounds who have waited far too long to be adopted into stable, loving homes.

“Barnardo’s has raised concerns that the fixation on race is acting as a barrier to adoption in the UK. The new guidance contains the right balance between the importance of culture and ethnicity and the need for urgency when matching children with families.

“Barnardo’s believes the new guidance reaffirms the importance of keeping the child at the centre of every decision.”