Fiona – PATCH Founder, Adopted, Adopter & Social Worker. PATCH reflects my commitment for change. The change needed is for ego, oppressive practice and blame to be replaced by trauma experts, delivering appropriate interventions, with compassion. Cat lover, lab lover, bad upcyler and dreamer of having a VW campervan.

Leanne – birth mum, adopter, New Zealander. Fiona’s valued sidekick and compass. Passionate about the failings within the Education system, and bringing the best out of children with Trauma Trained Teaching. And another cat lover.

Kristie – PATCH friend. A lady who won’t stay in a campervan, or a tent, or a caravan, but who will tell you when you’re wrong, and most certainly tell you when you’re right.

Susie – Solo adopter, and birth mother.  Adoptee with profound understand of family, connection and loss. On the road to PHD, and committed to the critical need for research into post adoption support. Founder of Walk Together Adoption, and proud PATCH crusader. Marathon runner and cold water swimmer, and dark chocolate hoarder.

Madeleine – Journalist, child counsellor, single adopter, SEN School Governor. Experience of battling LA’s CAMHS, MAJ, Health & Social Care and Education system for my child. Dog lover, swimmier and Tango dancer.

Julie – Adopter, Psychotherapist, Supervisor. Previous Social Work Manager of Care Leaver Service, & Short Breaks. Passionate about parent mental health so set up www.nurturehubtherapyservice.co.uk. A walker, explorer, someone always on the go, who loves to dance!

Franny – Adopter of ND two teens. Survivor of parental blame, Passionate about ensuring statutory duties are understood. CEDR mediator, working with children with Cerebral Palsy and adults with complex trauma and brain injuries. Lover of pottery, art and animals.

Michelle – Exasperated adopter of 3, 2 have FASD. Co-chair & founder of local support/ advice group for parents of children with Neurological Disorders. Happily married Floral Designer.

Brian – Proud adoptive parent to magic PDA child. Outraged that care experienced people are STILL more likely to end up with a criminal record than an education. Working to see professionals and families working in equal partnership to make a real difference. And a lover of crochet!

Lou – Lou: Adoptive Mum of fabulous but complex 15 year old son. Broken adoption due to lack of understanding and lack of appropriate support/child to parent violence/parental blame. Parenting at a distance as positively as possible. Putting my broken soul back together by focusing change, interspersed by collecting way too many plants and making pretty things out of sea glass.

Ruth – Chartered Accountant, keen park runner and cat lover. Passionate about pre–Adoption Order breakdowns; negligence/lack of transparency at the point of matching and the lack of suitable support when new families are in crisis.

Ali – Social Worker, previously a Social Work Director & Agency Decision Maker, Ex-Police Officer, previously life as a Children’s Guardian and Foster Carer. Adopter of 5. Also a history of working to challenge injustice. Raising and promoting all things FASD. Dog lover, and founder of FASD Dogs UK.

Jane – Adopter navigating heartbreaking adoption breakdown. Committed to challenging injustice, & exposing systemic failings of adopters. Continuing with studies of psychology and counselling, volunteering at MIND & adore my rescue dog and cats. Learning to live in the moment with tea, Tai-Chi and some marmite and Maltesers.

Verity – Adopter of 2, positively parenting one from a distance, who has severe attachment disorder and developmental traumas. Live with my husband, daughter, Beagle called Molly. Love dancing, reading swimming, going for coffee with friends. Work as a School Nurse in a Special School.

Samantha – Adopter, of now teens, one who no longer lives with us, as we were sold a false dream that a loving family was enough to allow the children to thrive. Our family broken by blame, which makes me passionate about adopters and their children getting the right support, from trauma specialists. Science Teacher, Marvel fan, and lover of chocolate coated Turkish Delight.

Naomi – Adopter of two siblings. Part of Senior Management in a Youth Charity, where i established our care experienced theme of work. Former Fostering Panel Member. Dog Lover and amateur Actor.

Lucy – Analyst, often end up metaphorical miles from where i started, falling down internet rabbit warrens. Keen to improve adoption support and transparency by social services. A dead lifter who is venturing into the world of Strong Woman Training, but also loves photography.

Claire – Mum of a busy, bouncy, 11 year-old adopted daughter. Writer/editor, campaigner, and former psychotherapist who stopped client work when home-schooling took its toll. Keen to challenge the widespread assumption that adopted siblings are better off growing up together. Lover of Northern Soul and river swimming.

Matt – Based in Scotland, Adopter of 2. Oldest no longer lives at home due to breakdown. We never received support, reach crisis & we were vilified & blamed for the violence & dangerous behaviour our son exhibited. Adoptive children and their parents are abandoned, we need lifelong support to be developed.

Christine – Single Mum to estranged, adopted neuro diverse son. Falsely convicted, fighting for justice to light the way for those that follow.