Adopting siblings

This may not be the first thing you think about when considering adopting a child but it’s probably one of the first questions you’ll get asked when you speak to your adoption social worker.  

For many children in care, their brother or sister has been the only constant presence in their lives. A brother or sister may be the only person who understands and shares their experiences and can help them make sense of their new lives as they are getting ready to move to their forever home.  

Keeping them together can make them feel safer, offers each child an extra layer of support and can make them feel less isolated. Knowing that they will not be apart from each other provides an important sense of continuity and belonging and has shown to have a very positive effect on their outcomes in later life. 

Parents who adopt brothers and sisters together give these children the greatest possible gift: a forever family for everyone. 

If you’ve got room in your house, and your heart, for more than one child, it’s definitely worth considering adopting brothers and sisters.

For people who are planning to adopt more than one child, adopting brothers and sisters could take less time and mean only one period of supporting children to move into their family. 

You can adopt a sibling group if you already have adopted or birth children if there is a big enough age gap between the children already in your family and the children you wish to adopt. This is to ensure that your existing children are secure and happy to welcome new members in the family.  

Ideally, we would require that you have a spare bedroom available for each child that you wish to adopt. Adopted children including brothers and sisters need their own space and a bedroom each. However, there are some exceptions; for example, if brothers and sisters have previously shared a room (such as bunk beds or single beds), sharing a bedroom can provide comfort and security to the adopted siblings who have been taken from their usual home and now find themselves in an unknown situation.  

In every case, each adoptive home will be carefully matched before the children move into their forever home. Find out more about the adoption process, from getting in touch with us to being matching with the right children. 

We understand that the decision to adopt is a huge step and so we'll provide you with support every step of the way.   

To get a better idea of what the support looks like, and the incredible outcomes that follow, read some of our amazing adoption success stories. 

We are there for you from the moment of enquiry, throughout the assessment process, to the day you first welcome children into your family, and beyond.  

We welcome adopters from all walks of life, and all backgrounds. Single or a couple, straight or LGBTQ+, disabled, a homeowner or renting, or whatever your religious or cultural background is, we believe you can adopt and are here to support you every step of the way.