Adoption Mid and West Wales Families Encourage New Adopters 2026

Key Points

• Parents of adopted children through Adoption Mid and West Wales have been urging other parents to look into adoption.
• This message was posted by the newsroom of Pembrokeshire County Council on 20 October 2026.
• A plea is being made for stable, secure, and loving adoptive homes for children who need them.
• Adoption Mid and West Wales is the regional adoption agency serving Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys.
• This plea comes at a time when it is National Adoption Week, which falls between 19 and 25 October 2026.
• Nationally, the National Adoption Service of Wales has reported that initial adoption inquiries have gone up by 10% in the last one year, but the number of children waiting to be adopted has increased by 11% with 310 children currently waiting.
• The National Adoption Service has initiated the “Now is a Good Time” campaign to encourage more individuals in Wales to adopt.
• Adoption Mid and West Wales has reported that anyone above 21 years can adopt without any upper age restriction.

Wales (Wales Times) October 20, 2026 – Parents in Adoption Mid and West Wales who have built their families through adoption are encouraging more people to consider providing a stable, safe and loving home for a child who needs one.

As reported by Pembrokeshire County Council’s newsroom, the parents’ message forms part of a wider appeal during National Adoption Week, which runs from Monday 19 October to Sunday 25 October 2026. The service says adoptive families can offer children permanence, security and the opportunity to grow up within a supportive family environment.

The appeal highlights the experiences of parents across the Adoption Mid and West Wales region, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys. It asks people who may have considered adoption to find out more about the process and the support available to families.

What is Adoption Mid and West Wales asking prospective adopters to do?

Adoption Mid and West Wales is asking prospective adopters to consider whether they could provide a permanent family for a child. The regional service says many people already have the qualities needed to offer a loving and stable home, and that support is available throughout the adoption journey.

As reported by Ceredigion County Council, Councillor Alun Williams, Cabinet Member responsible for Through Age Wellbeing, which includes adoption, said: “Every child deserves the chance to thrive in a loving and stable home. This new visual identity reflects the care, support and sense of belonging that adoption can bring.”

He added: “Here in Ceredigion, we are proud to work with our regional partners to support children, adopters and families and to help create positive futures through adoption.”

The regional service continues to encourage more people to consider adoption and says that information, guidance and support are available at every stage of the process.

How does the appeal fit into National Adoption Week 2026?

The parents’ appeal coincides with National Adoption Week, an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of adoption and encourage prospective adopters to come forward. This year’s week runs from 19 to 25 October 2026.

As reported by Nation.Cymru, the National Adoption Service for Wales and Foster Wales launched the “Now is a Good Time” campaign during the week. The campaign is inspired by stories of the moment parents decided to begin the adoption process and features adopters from across Wales sharing their experiences.

Eifion Burke, Director of the National Adoption Service for Wales and Foster Wales, said:

“National Adoption Week provides a great opportunity to share and celebrate the joy created for many families in Wales through adoption.”

He said:

“As I begin my journey as Director, I want to take this opportunity to thank all those families who have opened their homes, and to encourage more to come forward.”

Mr Burke also said:

“We want people to know that no one adopts alone. A wide range of support is available to children and adoptive families across Wales, including therapeutic services, peer networks and community-based support, helping families to build strong, positive and lasting relationships.”

Why is there a need for more adoptive families in Wales?

The call for more adoptive families comes as the number of children waiting to be adopted has increased. According to figures reported by Nation.Cymru, initial enquiries to adopt across Wales increased by 10% over the past year, following several years of decline.

However, the same report states that the need for adoptive families has also grown. The number of children waiting to be adopted increased by 11%, with 310 children currently waiting across Wales.

The figures indicate that, while more people are making initial enquiries, the demand for permanent adoptive homes remains higher than the number of families currently available. Adoption Mid and West Wales’s local appeal is therefore part of a wider national effort to encourage more people to explore adoption.

Who can adopt through Adoption Mid and West Wales?

Adoption Mid and West Wales says people aged 21 or over can apply to adopt, and there is no upper age limit. The service provides adoption teams across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.

According to the service’s guidance, adoption is open to single people and couples, whether married, unmarried or in a civil partnership. It also says it does not matter whether a prospective adopter already has children.

The service says its role is to ensure children grow up as part of a permanent, loving family from childhood through to adulthood. Where children cannot remain with their birth families, the service works to find permanent alternative families through adoption.

What support is available to adoptive families?

Adoption Mid and West Wales says support is available throughout every stage of the adoption journey. The service describes its work as helping prospective adopters explore whether adoption is right for them, as well as supporting families after children are placed.

The National Adoption Service for Wales says support available to children and adoptive families includes therapeutic services, peer networks and community-based support. It says these services are intended to help families build strong, positive and lasting relationships.

Adoption Mid and West Wales also provides information events for people considering adoption. Its website lists an online information event scheduled for Wednesday 18 November 2026, from 6.30pm to 8pm.

What have adoptive parents in mid and west Wales said previously?

The latest appeal follows earlier accounts from adoptive parents in the region. As reported by Nation.Cymru in August 2026, two mothers from mid and west Wales shared their experiences of adopting children in agricultural communities during a National Adoption Service for Wales panel event at the Royal Welsh Show.

Carys, who adopted two children, and Annwyn, who adopted siblings through Adoption Mid and West Wales, took part in the event. When asked what advice they would give to anyone considering starting their own adoption journey, their message was: “Go for it.”

Their experiences were used to highlight the role that rural communities can play in supporting adoptive families. The report described Adoption Mid and West Wales as one of five regions that, alongside three voluntary adoption agencies, make up the National Adoption Service for Wales.

Why did Adoption Mid and West Wales recently update its public identity?

The appeal also follows the introduction of a new visual identity and website by Adoption Mid and West Wales in September 2026. The service covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys and operates as a partnership between the four county councils.

As reported by Ceredigion County Council, the new identity reflects the partnership between Ceredigion County Council, Carmarthenshire County Council, Pembrokeshire County Council and Powys County Council, which together form Adoption Mid and West Wales under the National Adoption Service.

The National reported that the new website was designed to make services clearer for families across the four local authority areas. It said the service hoped that making information more accessible and presenting a cohesive visual identity would encourage more people to consider adoption as a way of building a family.

Background of the development

Adoption Mid and West Wales is the regional adoption service for Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys. It operates under the National Adoption Service for Wales and brings together the four local authorities to find permanent families for children who cannot remain with their birth families.

The service says its aim is to ensure children grow up in a permanent, loving family from childhood through to adulthood. It provides information, assessment and support for prospective adopters, as well as services for adoptive families.

The latest appeal was published during National Adoption Week 2026, which the National Adoption Service for Wales is marking with its “Now is a Good Time” campaign. The campaign encourages people across Wales to consider adoption and highlights the support available to families, including therapeutic services, peer networks and community-based support.

The regional appeal also follows a period of renewed attention on adoption in Wales. National figures reported during National Adoption Week show that initial enquiries rose by 10% in the past year, while the number of children waiting to be adopted rose by 11% to 310.

Prediction: How could this development affect prospective adopters in mid and west Wales?

The appeal could encourage more people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys to seek information about adoption, particularly those who have previously considered it but have not taken the next step.

For prospective adopters, the message may make the process feel more accessible by emphasising that people do not adopt alone and that support is available from the start. The availability of online information events, such as the session listed for 18 November 2026, may also make it easier for people to ask questions before making a formal enquiry.

For children waiting for adoptive families, an increase in enquiries could improve the chances of finding permanent homes. However, the national figures indicate that the number of children waiting has risen alongside enquiries, meaning continued recruitment and support for adopters are likely to remain important.

For local families already involved in adoption, greater awareness may lead to stronger peer networks and more community understanding of the support needs of adoptive households. The regional service’s emphasis on guidance throughout the adoption journey suggests that prospective adopters will be encouraged to consider both the rewards and the practical support required when adopting a child.