“Our decision to adopt with WBAS arose during the summer of 2023, says Beth when I ask her how her journey started.

“We’d been trying for a few years to conceive naturally with some losses along the way and just thought ‘what’s next?’.

“We considered IVF and another option but just thought ‘do we really want to do this, it can take a long time and be heart-breaking too.

“Then as soon as we went on the adoption info session with Ruth we just knew this was the right path, it just felt right and natural for us!

“There was a grieving process (from conceiving naturally) that we went through along the way.

“Western Bay Adoption was actually recommended to us by our neighbour at a Royal Coronation street party. We checked the website and booked onto a information session to learn more.”

As part of the initial enquiry process potential adopters complete the contact form on this website – we’ve recently replaced the group adoption information sessions with a more personalised 1 – 2 – 1 with a social worker,  following on from this we then schedule the more in-depth Initial Visit.

“There were lots of things that were new to us during these early stages, explains Beth.

“Things such as the duration of the entire process and how birth parents can contend certain things. Regardless of this though it didn’t affect us, the more we learnt the more at ease with things we were – we just felt super-excited!

“That early information session was actually really beneficial for us because there were some people on the later in the process Preparation to Adopt Training Course who had a lot to digest. We felt we had an introduction already to the main issues.

How was the initial home visit with your social worker?

“It felt like we had known Ruth for years which was important because you are opening your whole life in the assessment process.

“If you didn’t get along with your social worker or have that natural chemistry then I imagine that’s going to be a pretty tough thing to do.

“Everyone has been great that we’ve dealt with such as Marie the Family Finder.

“Moving onto Panel we were slightly anxious of course but we were prepped well. Our situation is slightly different in that my husband is taking the bulk of the maternity leave. It’s great that there is that flexibility with our employers.

“It makes a massive difference when employers are sensitive to the needs of people going through the adoption process, explains Beth.

“I did find Panel tough despite our preparation, however. I’m very confident in work in terms of speaking up in meetings etc, but talking about yourself in that context just felt so different.

“We flew through with no questions from the Panel which testament to the work we did with Ruth on our Prospective Adopters Report (PAR) which really digs into your strengths and what you can offer a child.”

Were there any doubts or challenges to overcome during process?

“We got a dog called Ollie who’s now 12 years old and he has just always been our baby. We slightly worried about they would take to each other.

“Ruth recommended a dog webinar to us for parents to be. It was excellent in terms of preventative measures so things do not end up at biting etc. We learnt about the importance of gradually introducing changes into the house.

“At one point my husband was walking around the village with an empty pram with Ollie to prep him for future walks, laughs Beth.

“The transition process with the foster carers was of course massive in all of this. They allowed us to bring Ollie to some days out together as we all got used to each other.

“They were really accommodating to us, providing a bowl and blanket for Ollie, he really took to the male foster carer!

“When baby and Ollie were finally together in our house, he was just like, ‘oh I know you, no biggie’.

“We say to our baby daughter now that’s your older brother Ollie there! laughs Beth.

So, has life changed much since the little one was placed?

“Fireworks night was when she came into our lives, so you can say it started with a bang! It’s early days but we are already thinking about her future.

“Life Journey Work will be a big part of the process. We also wrote a settling in letter for birth mum. It’s probably not the right time at the moment but we’re keen to meet birth mum face to face when she’s ready.

“We’re also keen for little one to have contact with her siblings. We feel this is so important for her identity. She’s got two sisters who have been adopted and Marie has linked us all together, we’re all actually in a What’s App Group.

“It’s great to have that community and shared purpose with each other.

“Mothers Day has been a strange one because I’m so used to thinking of others and my own mother today that someone had to remind me – today is about you now too.  And then it just hit me.

“I came home from work this week and little one had made me a card in playgroup with her little footprint. It really hit home then and was such a special feeling.”