News
Media Coverage in Paisley Daily Express
6 February 2026
Following the success of the national awareness event, Big Adoption Day, Kibble Adoption is reflecting on what it describes as an unprecedented interest in adoption with thirty interested adopters joining its online or in-person events.
Designed to shine a light on the adoption journey, the events gave attendees an opportunity to engage directly with the process, challenge common misconceptions, and explore their own readiness to adopt.
According to Paula Harkins, Operations Manager at Kibble Adoption, the positive response to Big Adoption Day reflects a trend the team has seen since its launch in August 2024.
Paula said: “We continue to see a genuine appetite from people who want to learn more about adoption and take time to understand what the journey really involves. We have seen a significant level of interest, attracting a diverse group of prospective adopters, but our focus remains on supporting people to explore adoption at their own pace, with children’s needs at the centre.”
In just one year, Kibble Adoption has received more than 500 enquiries, with interest coming from people at all different stages of their lives. Some may be at the very beginning of their journey, while others have been considering adoption for years and are ready to start formalising their interest.
Paula explained: “The service places importance on face-to-face conversations and honesty which help people feel supported rather than rushed.”
Kibble Adoption was created to ensure that adoption practice is led by children’s needs and voices, recognising long-term adoption support is vital in strengthening outcomes for children and their families.
The service currently has 21 assessments underway, with five individuals or couples already approved to adopt. Kibble Adoption celebrated a significant milestone in 2025 hen their first adoptive family welcomed their child home
While that achievement is celebrated, Paula is clear that this stage is not the end point.
“That is when the next chapter – lifelong support – begins,” she says. “Children come to us with histories and identities that are uniquely theirs. Our role is to support them in continuing their story, helping them to integrate their past and present into a strong, lifelong sense of self.”
Kibble Adoption’s support extends well beyond placement, with ongoing services designed to help families adapt, connect and grow.
Monthly workshops and a peer support network provide practical guidance and a space for adopters to share experiences. A therapeutic playgroup also offers support to adopted children in a relaxed environment, where relationships can be supported, nurtured and intervention offered if required.
The adoption service actively engages with those with lived experience to improve its practice, including other adoptees, adoptive families and a Birth Parents Group, providing essential insight into the needs of all who are affected by adoption.
Kibble Adoption is also developing community connections through new initiatives such as the “Couch to Peak” walking challenge, designed to bring families together in a shared experience.
With over 3,000 children currently looking for their forever homes, Kibble Adoption works collaboratively and nationwide with local authorities and other adoption agencies, supporting the placement of children across Scotland, including sibling groups, older children and children with additional needs who often wait much longer for their permanent homes.
With Kibble’s unique experience across trauma-informed practices, one of the key takeaways Paula and her adoption team impress is that prospective adopters are encouraged to reflect deeply on their own experiences, support networks and capacity to meet the lifelong needs of an adopted child.
“Adoption is not simply about wanting a child. It is about understanding trauma, loss and identity, and being prepared for how that can be expressed over time.”
As the service looks ahead, the focus is firmly on how children settle into their new families and how support evolves alongside them. While early milestones are encouraging, Harkins believes the success of Kibble Adoption will ultimately be measured over years, not months.
“Adoption is a lifelong journey, and when a child is placed with their adoptive family it’s just the beginning. The real testament to the success of our service lies in the experiences of those young people and the adopters.”
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