Adopt Coast to Coast Celebrates Five Years and Over 450 Children Matched with Loving Families

Adopt Coast to Coast, the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) for County Durham and Sunderland, is proudly celebrating its fifth anniversary this April, marking five years of collaboration, innovation and life‑changing support for children and families across the North East.

Launched on 1 April 2021 as part of a national initiative to strengthen and streamline adoption services, the partnership brings together Durham County Council and Together for Children, which delivers children’s services on behalf of Sunderland City Council. By uniting resources and expertise, Adopt Coast to Coast has transformed the way adoption services operate across the region.

Since its formation, Adopt Coast to Coast has found permanent, loving homes for over 450 children and approved 285 adopters, with a further 40 currently progressing through the application process. By bringing together the expertise of its partner agencies, the RAA has been able to deliver consistent, high‑quality support from a family’s first enquiry through to post‑adoption services. This collaborative approach has strengthened relationships across the region and created a responsive, child‑centred service that continues to focus on recruiting adopters from all backgrounds to ensure every child can be matched with the family best suited to meet their needs.

To mark its fifth birthday, Adopt Coast to Coast hosted a special celebration event for adoptive families, with more than 100 adoptive families joining the festivities. The event recognised the achievements of adoptive parents, the resilience of children, and the dedication of staff who have helped shape the agency’s success.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Adopt Coast to Coast is launching a unique creative project developed with adopted children and young people from its Adoptshine group.

The service commissioned artists and adopters, Kate and Phyllis to work with the group to create a series of expressive and meaningful flags representing how adopted children feel about adoption. The artwork will be unveiled as part of the anniversary celebrations and will form a powerful visual reflection of the voices and experiences of adopted young people.

Paula Gibbons, Head of Service, said:

“As we mark our fifth anniversary, we’re proud of the progress made. Despite launching during Covid and then facing a continuing cost of living crisis, both teams have worked hard to build a strong responsive service for children and adopters.

“However, we still need more adopters. Many people rule themselves out before they even enquire, often because of misconceptions. There’s no checklist of criteria, it’s about finding the best match for each child. You don’t need to be perfect to adopt, and people from all backgrounds, relationship statuses, sexual orientations, financial situations and family set‑ups are welcome. Taking that first step can feel daunting, but our staff are friendly, approachable and here to help.”

As Adopt Coast to Coast moves into its sixth year, its focus remains clear: to provide the highest standard of support for adoptive families, and to ensure every child who needs a permanent home has the opportunity to thrive within one.