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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Latest Posts…

Posts by Patch's Founder

When are they going to join us? – Preventative practice has to be the priority.

There is no shortage of conversations about change in children’s services. Over the past few years, I have spoken with social workers, psychologists, researchers, health professionals, educators, lawyers and senior leaders about the challenges facing children who have experienced adversity. [...]

05
Aug

PATCH Shield Posts About Lived Experience Posts by Patch's Founder

Open Letter to the Government – Child In Focus, an alliance of individuals, professionals and beyond who want change in permanence

Dear Josh, During our recent discussions, you posed an important question: What should frontline professionals working with children in permanence be trained to understand? This letter represents the collective response of the PATCH community and the emerging Child in Focus [...]

05
Aug

Posts About Lived Experience

You failed to see

You failed to see that my child would suffer for the rest of their life from being beaten as a baby. You failed to see that my child would carry invisible wounds from being neglected, from being abused, from being [...]

17
Jul

Posts About Lived Experience

The Tragedy Behind the System’s Lens

There is a specific kind of grief that doesn’t belong to death, but feels entirely fatal. It is the raw, heavy ache of a house built for children that is suddenly, permanently quiet. When you have spent years pouring everything [...]

09
Jul

Posts About Lived Experience

The Aftermath

Child-to-parent violence is a soul-destroying thing. In times of desperation you need a voice, someone to ring. Instead you’re all alone, frustrated, hurt, in despair. You have a child who is raging, who needs help to repair. Things that are [...]

06
Jul

Posts About Lived Experience

Who Holds the Holders?

There is a story that services understand easily: a child with complex needs and parents who care deeply. There is another story that is rarely explored: who carries the weight when care becomes constant and holding never stops. In many [...]

06
Jul

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.