January 2025
I hope this email finds you well!
We’re excited to share the first edition of our newsletter with you.
Thank you for being part of our journey to create meaningful change. We are always open to discussions with anyone interested in the campaign, so please get in touch.
Warm regards,
Fiona Wells
PATCH Founder
PATCH Steering Group
A PATCH Steering Group has been formed, consisting of 24 dedicated members who are helping to shape and build PATCH. The group gathers views, thoughts, and experiences from the rapidly growing Facebook community, as well as other networks, groups, and individuals, to drive the campaign and ensure adopters’ voices are heard.
Their current focus includes:
•Creating a document as described below
•Registering PATCH as a CIC to formalise its operations
•Building connections and networking to strengthen PATCH’s reach and impact
•Managing the logistical aspects of PATCH’s rapid growth
Together, the Steering Group is committed to creating meaningful change and providing adopters with a powerful platform to share their voices and shape the future of adoption.
Pathway
PATCH is creating a document as a result of collaborations amongst adopters who have experienced systemic failings. Together, we have crafted this pathway with the goal of implementing essential changes needed within the system. Endorsed by adopters, professionals, and advocates for reform, this guide will represent a collective vision for a better future for adoptive families.
Website
The website is being reshaped to be more coherent, so watch this space!
Would you like to contribute by writing an article or sharing good practice? Please contact fionawells.patch@gmail.com.
Mission Statement
The PATCH Steering Group has created a mission statement to summarise the purpose of PATCH. Please take a look!
Meetings
Recently, Fiona, Verity, Susie, and Ruth attended a meeting in London with Chief Social Worker Isabelle Trowler and Kevin Woods, the Assistant Director of Adoption Policy. This meeting provided an opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives on current practices. There was a shared agreement that change is urgently needed, as the child protection lens on the adoption crisis often overlooks the child’s lived experiences and critical elements of their recovery and well-being.
While in London, Fiona also attended the Adopter Reference Group Meeting, where she met with professionals such as Sarah Johal and Kevin Wong. These discussions highlighted the urgent need for systemic change, with consensus emerging among attendees.
What You Can Do!
•Want more information? Get in touch!
•Agree with the campaign? Like, share, post, and re-post!
•Don’t agree? We want to hear your views.
•Have examples of good practice? Please share them!
•Are you an adopter in crisis? Join our Facebook group: PATCH Facebook Group or email us at fionawells.patch@gmail.com.
Next Up
•March: Launch of the PATCH Pathway and an opportunity to discuss it
•September: Possible conference—watch this space!
•More meetings with influential people to come
Newsletter Updates
The newsletter will be published quarterly.
Next edition: April 2025