A NEW campaign to debunk some of the myths about adoption is being launched in the county.

One Adoption West Yorkshire is part of a coalition of national, regional and voluntary adoption agencies that have joined forces to create the #YouCanAdopt campaign. The nationwide initiative is designed to boost falling adoption numbers while making the rules around what the process clearer.

Head of One Adoption West Yorkshire, Sarah Johal, said: “The future of many children depends on adults exploring adoption and taking the first step towards becoming an adoptive parent.

“Here in West Yorkshire we are particularly looking for families for older children, groups of brothers and sisters, and those with additional or unknown health needs. We also need to find more adoptive parents for children who are of African or mixed heritage, who traditionally tend to wait longer.

“We need to address misunderstandings and outdated views to ensure that nobody is discouraged from taking the first important step towards adopting a child. Some people assume that because of their age or marital status they won’t be able to adopt but that is simply not true, adoption is a choice for people who want to become a parent.”

A new film featuring adoptive families has been released as part of the campaign, alongside a podcast series featuring a number of famous voices talking about adoption. Earlier this year a report revealed that 41 per cent of adults in the region have considered adoption or would do so - but most did not feel that they knew much about the process.

For more details visit www.youcanadopt.co.uk.