AFTER just six weeks of operation, east Cheshire’s new regional adoption agency has made a successful start.

Following its launch on July 3, Adoption Counts has been responsible for recruiting adopters, family finding for children and providing support to adoptive families in east Cheshire, Stockport, Manchester, Trafford and Salford.

It is the second regional adoption agency to be set up in the UK, and has now made its first adopter approval and received more than 100 enquiries – while its new website has attracted more than 27,000 visits.

Sue Westwood, regional adoption agency manager, said: “I am really excited to be leading one of the first regional adoption agencies in the country. 

“Adoption Counts is a new and improved way of finding permanent homes for our most vulnerable children. 

“It has been really exciting to bring together the best of our existing practice and to develop new services across such a large area.

“We are committed not just to finding new families but supporting these families into the future, helping them to give children the security they need.”

Over the next few months, all adoption services in the five boroughs will be delivered sites in Middlewich, Salford and Wythenshawe.

Adoption Counts has also been awarded £500,000 from the Department of Education to develop a centre of excellence in adoption support.

Robert Goodwill MP, minister of state for children and families, added: “I am confident that the regional adoption agencies will improve services for children and families.

“Regional adoption agencies are an opportunity to ensure the best possible outcomes for those going through the adoption process through more efficient matching and family finding, coordinated adopter recruitment, and a consistent offer of adoption support.”

For more information visit adoptioncounts.org.uk, or to find out more about adopting in east Cheshire, call 0300 123 2676.