As a single parent in her late 30's, Jackie wanted to have another child but did not relish the thought of a pregnancy. She noticed an open day organised by PACT and went along thinking that her status and the fact that she lives in a council house would count against her ....

At her request, a social worker came to visit Jackie and daughter Eve and the home study got underway. "It was very hard", says Jackie. "There are some things you do when you are 15 that you want to forget ... but it was very positive for me, as I felt, "wow! These things have made me into the person I am today."

The next stage was the adoption and fostering panel, the first meeting Jackie had had with white representatives of PACT, as she had been reassured to have a black social worker for the home study. Jackie was approved after a session that consisted of a few small questions and now is looking for a black child to foster. "You have opened up your whole life during the home study, and then you can't find a child." Jackie took advantage of the chance to tell PACT what kind of child she felt would not fit into her existing family, but that has had the downside that the number of children offered has been reduced.

Jackie is still waiting to find the perfect match so that she can offer a long-term foster placement into her loving home environment.