Welcome to PATCH: Passionate Adopters Targeting Change with Hope
At PATCH we are committed to challenging systemic failures in adoption and advocating for meaningful reform. Our mission is to empower adoptive families, enhance understanding, and drive change to push for the delivery of the support that every child and family deserves to thrive. PATCH was established to illuminate the challenges faced by many adopters in crisis, exposing the inadequacies and harmful nature of current systems.
PATCH’s response to the Government’s Adoption and Support Consultation outlines systemic failings in adoption practice across the UK. Grounded in trauma science and lived experience, it challenges a system that continues to overlook the depth and lifelong impact of early harm.
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Read All Posts | Posts by PATCH’s Founder | Posts by Professionals | Posts About Lived Experience | Posts in The Press | Posts About Wider Views | Guides | Newsletters
News Posts by Patch's Founder
Disrupted Childhood Development
We do not see children by looking only at behaviour, crisis, or outcomes. We see them when we understand the developmental journey that shaped them. Too often, children’s needs remain hidden beneath labels, assumptions, missed opportunities, and systems focused on [...]
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11
May
May
Posts About Wider Views
FASD Slides – Dr Alan Price – Lecturer in Psychology – Uni of Salford
Please see the slides from the webinar with Dr Alan Price. If people want advice on diagnosis please either contact either FASD network or National Organisation for FASD – these groups are experts in advice on how to secure a [...]
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Posts About Lived Experience
Three stories of Pre Order Disruptions
Story One By Marie When I first heard about the child who was going to be placed with me, the foster carer told me they were the most difficult child they had cared for in forty years of fostering. I [...]
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04
May
May
Posts About Lived Experience Posts by Patch's Founder
‘Context doesn’t matter’
The Support is a Lie: When Systems Choose Not to See When I adopted, I was not naïve. I understood trauma. I understood complexity. I understood much of the reality of children whose lives had already been shaped by loss, [...]
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12
Apr
Apr
Posts About Wider Views Uncategorised
Off topic – The Shame That Isn’t mine to Carry
It was a relationship that became something else. Not suddenly, and not in a way that made sense at the time. It shifted gradually, piece by piece, until I found myself in something I no longer recognised—and even less so, [...]
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05
Apr
Apr
Who We Are
Driven by personal journeys and united in our mission, we strive to ensure that every adopter’s voice is heard, and every child’s trauma is addressed with expertise and empathy. Our commitment lies in pushing for meaningful change, challenging systemic failings, and advocating for the entire well-being of children and families within the adoption community.
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Voices
These narratives are not just stories; they are heartfelt pleas for understanding, empathy, and systemic change. From personal accounts to professional insights, each voice contributes to a richer, more nuanced dialogue on adoption, fostering, and the urgent need for a more empathetic and informed approach. Listen, reflect, and join us in our mission to transform the landscape of adoption and social care.
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Resources & Links
Here, you’ll find a comprehensive collection of tools, articles, guides, and invaluable insights aimed at supporting adopters, professionals, and anyone touched by the adoption process. Whether you’re seeking knowledge, understanding, or practical advice, our resources are meticulously selected to provide clarity, comfort, and direction.
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A poem written by Charlie Ras Writes
We chose a different kind of family life
knowing there could be wounds that ran deep
still, we celebrated the day they came home
and began our life as family.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy
experience taught me so
but surely there’d be help in place
structure, guidance, a secure scaffold?
But when the problems came
it was difficult to comprehend
I reached out for a helping hand
but got stung instead.
I found torture in the place
I hoped to find support
I thought they’d have a safety net
solutions ready to catch me when I fall.
And so, I left them, weapons in hands
broken heart in mine
I found other survivors of the mess
we formed our own alliance.
In numbers we found collective strength
to target failures that made us allies
our passion became a shield to push forward
not to hide behind.
We’re all very different people
our common ground, we’d rather not be
but our differences make us stronger
as we fight for change for adopters and adoptees.
In the face of blame and bias
a meeting of minds became a precious gem
patch by patch we’ll build with relentless hope
to bring these failings to their overdue end.