This #TrusteesWeek, CVAA wants to give a huge thank you to our Board of Trustees and trustees across our VAA members for their invaluable commitment, expertise and support in improving outcomes for children and families within the voluntary adoption sector. Find out more: trusteesweek.org
CVAA UK
@cvaauk.bsky.social
Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies. UK-wide membership and policy charity. Our members change the world for adopted children & their families every day. cvaa.org.uk
Don’t miss CVAA’s free webinar on 10 Nov (12-1pm), delivered by CVAA and Adoption England, exploring the unique place of VAAs in adoption and how partnership working improves outcomes for children and families. Book your place here: bit.ly/4zli8sQ #Adoption #VAAContribution #AdoptionSupport
VAAs in the adoption system: what is our place and how we contribute? Short and Smart – 1hr Session – FREE – Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies
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Two days in Edinburgh. One sector, stronger together. 💜 Last week, VAA leaders came together for CVAA’s UK Members’ Conference to share learning, hear adoptee, adopter and birth parent perspectives, and explore how we can strengthen adoption practice. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
CVAA's new Best Practice in Adoption Agency Front Door course is now available on our e-learning platform. Delivered by ARC Adoption North East, it explores creating welcoming, responsive experiences from first contact. £59 | 2.5 CPD hours | 12 months’ access | Book: bit.ly/4yqm5ff
CVAA is proud to support Proud 2 b Parents LGBT+ Parents & Carers Day this Saturday 19th September! This year’s theme, Visibility, celebrates LGBT+ families being seen, recognised and supported. Find out how to get involved: bit.ly/4xyDD7M #LGBTParentsAndCarersDay #LGBT
Today, You Can Adopt launches #EveryDayIsEverything, highlighting the growing need for more adopters. 3,010 children in England are waiting for a permanent home. The campaign’s film brings these figures to life through real adoption stories, showing that adoption is about being there every day❤️
Join us for our next expert-led CVAA training session! Tuesday 22nd September | Identity After Adversity: Practice Support for Adopted Young People with Adverse Early Childhood Experiences with Dr Zoe Webb and Tanya Killick. 👉 Book now: bit.ly/4pcweYX
Yesterday, VAAs from across the UK launched a new 'Advice from Adopters' guide exploring Early Permanence as a route to parenthood. The guide offers an honest insight to help more children get the best possible start in life. Find out more and download the guide via our website here bit.ly/3SY8NH2
VAAs launch new Advice from Adopters guide: Understanding Adoption via Early Permanence – Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies
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Don’t miss our next FREE Short & Smart lunchtime session! Adoption in 2026 – Lessons from Research and Lived Experience 2nd July | 12–1pm | Online CVAA's CEO Satwinder Sandhu shares key insights from adoption conferences and the future of adoption. Book your place: bit.ly/4ubMfzd
Join us for our next practice webinar: Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Supporting Discouraged Adoptive Parents. Co-delivered with Adoption Focus, this session will explore blocked care, compassion fatigue, and practical ways professionals can support families. 👉Book here: bit.ly/3RFbSeb
CVAA has responded to the Government’s “Adoption support that works for all” consultation on behalf of 14 VAA agencies in England. We set out 7 principles for effective adoption support, prioritising the best outcomes for children, families and adult adoptees. Read the full response: bit.ly/4u3t9vV
CVAA responds to Government consultation on adoption support – Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies
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There’s still time to book onto next week’s expert-led Practice Programme session: From Contact to Connection: Navigating Culture Change in Adoption Practice 🗓 Thursday 7th May | ⏰ 10am–4pm | 💻Online Join Vicky Swift from Adoption England & Dr Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE Book here: bit.ly/4t8qhwP
CVAA Scotland - representing five voluntary adoption agencies - has launched its Keeping the Promise for Adopted Children: Manifesto 2026 setting out a vision to reform and modernise adoption and calling for urgent action to improve outcomes for adopted people and families. Read more: bit.ly/48lSA3g
CVAA Scotland launches 2026 Adoption Manifesto ahead of Scottish Parliament elections – Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies
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CVAA UK has launched its new on-demand training platform Flexible, expert-led learning you can access anytime, anywhere—designed to fit around practice. First course: Blended Families (2.5 CPD hrs) From £59 20% off with code CUT20 (until 31 May 2026) Start learning: cvaa.learnworlds.com/courses
Courses
cvaa.learnworlds.com
@barnardos.org.uk Adoption North England has been rated Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted who praised for its exceptional support. The report covers 5 services: Adoption North England, Midlands & South West, London/East & South East, Making Connections & CAFIS. Full report here: bit.ly/4sKoe1L
CVAA has responded to the report on Historical Forced Adoption and agree that a government apology is vital, however this must be matched with funding, support, and reform. Survivors’ voices must drive change for all affected by forced adoption. Read CVAA’s full response here: bit.ly/4tf4W4Y
Short & Smart session Holding the Rope: Effectively Supporting Trauma-Impacted Families needing Respite 16 Apr | 12–1pm | Online Join Libby McVeigh & Helen Willis @thebelayfoundation.org.uk for practical insights on trauma-responsive respite and supporting care-experienced families. bit.ly/4rXh0qH
📣 Join our next expert-led training! Supporting Black & Brown Adopted Children in Education: Building Inclusion, Equity & Confidence co-delivered by Esher Williams (Anti-Racism Hub) 🗓 Tue 24 March | ⏰ 10am–4pm | 💻 Online For #AdoptionPractitioners #Adoptionmanagers Book now: bit.ly/4rLN2Gd
The team had a great couple of days in Bristol earlier this week with the @cvaauk.bsky.social Trustee Board reflecting on our strategy and priorities for VAAs in the adoption and permanence sector. Truly inspired by the ideas and insights shared and excited for the year ahead!
Join our next expert-led training with @katiewrench.bsky.social for #adoptionpractitioners A Framework for Therapeutic Life Story Work in Adoption: Building Safety into Difficult Conversations Secure your place: bit.ly/4l4DjsC
Our CEO Satwinder Sandhu highlights concerns over the new ASGSF reforms: universal early intervention is established, but high-level, timely support for adoptive families is missing. Adoption UK warns devolving the Fund may reduce consistency & accountability. Read below: bit.ly/3MMCoAh
Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund: no reversal of therapy funding cuts as DfE signals end to scheme in 2028 - Community Care
Government increases ASGSF budget for 2026-27 by 10% but fails to unwind reductions in funding limits for therapy
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🍴 Make your lunch hour work smarter. Curious about #adoption and #AI but not sure where to start? Join our 1-hour Short & Smart session on using AI (Magic Notes) to cut admin, improve meetings & free time for children and families. 🗓 Thu 5 Feb | 12–1pm 👉 bit.ly/3LR9H4V
January’s nearly done 👀✨ Here’s what’s coming up in our Feb–Mar Practice Programme! Expert-led training, practical learning, and plenty to get involved in. 👉 Explore the full programme & book your place: bit.ly/45Jh3NQ
The annual Adoption Barometer Survey is live. Your voice is needed now more than ever. Closes 9th February. Complete The Adoption Barometer 2026 survey here > https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AdoptionBarometer2026 Find out more about The Adoption Barometer > www.adoptionuk.org/the-adoption-barometer
An Outstanding Ofsted result from one of our valued members @familyfuturesuk.bsky.social. A huge congratulations to all staff for the 5th Outstanding inspection in a row👏🎉
"...Children feel safe and secure in their adoptive families...The team provides consistent support that is highly individualised to reflect individual needs." Ofsted 2025 #OfstedOutstandingProvider since 2012! www.familyfutures.co.uk/were-here-fo... #HelpingFamiliesHeal
This Wednesday is #BigAdoptionDay 🙌 #AdoptionMatters will be joining Voluntary Adoption Agencies (VAA's) across the UK in highlighting the work that we do to find loving adoptive families for children waiting to be placed. 🧡 Learn more: buff.ly/hoMEnnU - #Adoption #Adopt
Grateful to CYP Now for covering our paper with Adoption UK, Kinship, Barnardo's, Coram & CoramBAAF, shaping the gov’s public engagement on #ASGSF. As CEO Satwinder Sandhu notes, the commitment is welcome—the test is in the delivery. Read below: www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...
Charities urge DfE to consult fairly on adoption support reforms - CYP Now
Charities are urging the Department for Education to make “no decisions about future reform” of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) until a forthcoming public consultation has b...
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Thank you to everyone who has supported CVAA this past year — we truly appreciate it. Wishing you all a very happy festive season and we look forward to working with you in the year ahead 🎄✨ 📌 Office closed from 5pm Tues 23 Dec 2025, reopening 9am Mon 5 Jan 2026. Merry Christmas from all at CVAA!
🎄 Christmas has come early at CVAA! 🎄 As a festive thank-you to everyone who joined our Practice Programme this year, enjoy 25% off all CVAA training sessions up to March 2026. ✨ Use code XMAS25 at checkout 🎁 Offer ends Wednesday 31st Dec 2025 Explore sessions: bit.ly/45Jh3NQ
🚨 Last CVAA training of the year! 🚨 The Power of Perspective: Mentalization Tools for Adoption Matching 📅 11 Dec, 10:00–13:30 | 🎓 3.5 CPD | 💻 Online With Dr Polly Cowan & Dr Alice Loving £49 CVAA members, £59 CVAA Subscribers & £79 Non-members 👉 Book now: bit.ly/448C6JB