Submit your story

The Adoption of Children Act (1926) introduced for the first time in England and Wales a legal process by which the rights and responsibilities for a child could be transferred from birth parents to adoptive parents. It provided a legal framework for adoption and is a significant historical development in child welfare legislation.

Coram will run a programme of activities, launching in January 2026, to mark the centenary of adoption by telling the story of its evolution and its contribution to supporting vulnerable children. As part of this, the charity is aiming to gather 100 stories of adoption from across the years, reflecting changes in adoption and capturing the diverse experiences of adopted people, adoptive parents, birth families and others touched by adoption.

FAQs

I/someone I know wants to share an adoption story. Where do I start?

We know that trying to put thoughts on paper can be daunting. We’ve put together a few questions that you could answer:

(For adopters) Why did you choose adoption?
(For adopters) How did you find the process of becoming an approved adopter
(For adopters) How has having and adopted child/children changed your life?
(For adoptees) Is there anything you wish people knew about adoption?
(For adoptees) Can you share your adoption story?

How long does it need to be?

To get a really rich webpage of content, we would love submissions to be between 300 and 900 words but we’re happy to make exceptions where necessary.

What kind of story should I submit?

We want a diverse range of stories from across the time period. They can be about adopters, adoptees, birth parents or anyone involved in the adoption process.

Can stories be anonymised?

Yes. We are happy to use pseudonyms and stock photos to go with the stories.

What if the story I’m submitting covers difficult themes?

We know the history of adoption is not always positive and we want to acknowledge that while adoption practices weren’t perfect from the start, the practices we have today come from 100 years of development and improvement. With this in mind, we are happy to consider stories of a more difficult nature.

Will my story definitely be featured on the Adoption Story website?

Whilst we will make every effort to include as many submissions as possible, we cannot guarantee that all material will be featured. Coram reserves the right to exercise final editorial control over what appears on the website.

Submit your story using the form below

Your name(Required)

You can request to be anonymised

Email(Required)

This is so we can contact you about your story

Phone(Required)

This is so we can contact you about your story

Your connection to adoption(Required)

E.g. adopter, adoptee, birth family

Date your story begins(Required)

e.g. the date the adopted child was born, or the date they were adopted

Please tell your story(Required)

Please tell your story, in your own words. You can even write a poem, or share a video if you wish.

By submitting this form you agree to Coram contacting you about your story(Required)

I agree

Your story will not be shared publicly without your permission.

The inbox this form is sent to is not monitored 24/7. Your submission will be acknowledged within 3 working days.

If you have any concerns about a child please contact your local Children’s Social Care Department. Alternatively, you can contact the NSPCC free helpline service on 0808 800 5000 to speak to an NSPCC counsellor 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They will listen to your concerns, offer advice and support and can take action on your behalf if a child is in danger. If you think a child is in immediate danger don't delay – call the police on 999. If you are a child or young person in need of someone to talk to, you can call Childline anytime on 0800 1111 or, if you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999.