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UK Wedding News

05/11/2013

Myths Are Stopping NI Children From Being Adopted

The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) has warned that myths surrounding age may be preventing some children in Northern Ireland from finding a permanent home.

New figures have been released and show that almost one in three adults (31%) in NI believe that being over the age of 40 would stop someone from being able to adopt a child.

The survey, which was conducted by YouGov on behalf of the BAAF, also found that more than a third (34%) consider having a low household income and being unemployed (35%) as barriers to adoption, while 22% think having a disability would rule a person out as a prospective adopter. A further 24% believe being overweight means you are not eligible to adopt.

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One in five (19%) of all Northern Irish people surveyed ruled themselves out of adoption as they considered themselves too old to adopt, while one in ten (11%) said being younger would have encouraged them to adopt.

However, BAAF has addressed the 'myths' and said there is no upper age limit for prospective adopters.

Priscilla McLoughlin, Director for BAAF Northern Ireland, said: "We must dispel these harmful myths in order to recruit more prospective adopters so that we have the widest possible choice of adoptive families for children waiting to be adopted. Being single, homosexual, overweight, or unemployed does not automatically rule you out as an adopter.

"If you have space in your life and home, we urge you to pick up the phone and call your local adoption agency. There are children waiting on your call to give them another chance at a family life."

(JP/CD)

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"The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) has warned that myths surrounding age may be preventing some children in Northern Ireland from finding a permanent home."