End for Manchester Adoption Society approaching?
Article published: Friday, January 22nd 2010
A celebrity campaign is underway to help a children’s charity raise the quarter of a million pounds it needs to stay open.
The Manchester Adoption Society could be closed in a month due to lack of funds after forming almost half a century ago.
Led by families who have used the service the initiative has the backing of some MPs and ‘Watchdog’ host Nicky Campbell.
Based in Prestwich the organisation has helped over 2,000 children find a decent home, and charity spokesperson Rob Finney is very disappointed it might all be over.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News he said: “It is our dear, dear wish that we stay here and continue what we’re doing. Our standards are very high, we’re really good at what we do and have a very good reputation. It’s unfortunate that it won’t continue.”
Voluntary adoption agencies like MAS have been finding it difficult to compete against Local Authorities, according to government commissioned research, by staff at Bristol and Loughborough Universities.
The study found that fees for voluntary organisations were £7,000 higher than for government funded ones.
4,000 children are currently looking to be adopted throughout England and every case offers a unique challenge.
Given its role in placing difficult to house children and groups with families, the loss of MAS would come at a great cost, being the only volunteer run agency in the north of England.
These organisations play a greater role in housing troubled kids than Local Authorities, and the support network will be greatly missed by those who have used the service.
Lynn Santha, who has adopted through MAS said: “The help and support provided by this agency is next to none and I am not sure what we will do without them. My daughter is also extremely distressed about this. We still have contact with my daughter’s birth mother nine years on. Should MAS close its doors I’m not sure this arrangement will be possible.”
Jason Travis, of the Save Manchester Adoption Society campaign said: “If they and others like them close hundreds of children will take longer to be adopted or may in some cases not be adopted at all. Kids could end up in long-term care which, as research suggests, is normally extremely damaging.”
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Tom Evans
More: Manchester, News
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