Could you provide a safe adopted future for children who are waiting for their forever family? 

“All children need and deserve secure and loving homes,” said Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for a fairer start. 

To mark this year’s National Adoption Week, a powerful set of portraits captured by royal fashion and portrait photographer Philip Sinden, who was adopted himself in the 1970s, has been released. The portraits show striking imagery of 8 people adopted between the 1960s and 2010s. Each individual portrait features a backdrop of the subject’s own emotive, poignant words that bring to life how adoption has shaped, and continues to shape, their lives and highlight how adoption has changed over the years. 

Through these powerful stories of adopted people across all age groups, a light is shone on the positive impact adoption has had on their lives, and the progress made to put children, and their sense of identity, at the heart of the adoption journey.  

‘A life-long evolving journey’

Councillor Nagpal continued: “Through Adopt London West, we work hard to place children and family groups with families who reflect their backgrounds as closely as possible. Placing London children with London families is a key priority, as we believe it is really important that children grow up within London’s diverse community. For those who have been adopted, discovering their identity can often be a life-long evolving journey.”

Historically, adoption was often treated as a secret and hidden, with little information and support provided to help adopted people understand their history and maintain connections with their birth family. However, knowing their background and maintaining contact with birth family is now considered a vital part of the mental wellbeing and sense of self of all adoptees. 

A short film of those taking part in the portraits shows how different adoption looks today from 50 years ago for adopted people.  One of those filmed is Isabelle, who was adopted in the 1980s and her adopted son Nathanial.  

‘Adoption should be open and celebrated’

Isabelle said: “Having been adopted myself, and then going on to adopt my 2 children, I know the importance of having an open dialogue around adoption. I want my kids to grow up knowing where they came from, and where possible, maintaining contact with their birth families. I didn’t know about my birth mother until I was much older, meaning I always had questions about my identity and history. Adoption is not a line in the sand between one life and another. It is something that should be open and celebrated – and I’m passionate about doing that with both my children”. 

If you would like to find out more about offering a safe adopted future to a child in need, check out the Adopt London website.