By Mandy Davies, PACT’s Assistant Director of Adoption Service
As we mark Big Adoption Day 2026, I’m reminded why adoption remains one of the most transformative journeys a child or adult can experience.
Every year, voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) across the UK open their doors to celebrate the families formed through adoption and to highlight the ongoing need for safe, loving, and permanent homes for children waiting to be adopted. This year, PACT is proud to stand alongside our fellow VAAs as part of this national campaign.
At PACT, we see daily the profound impact adoption can have – not only on children who have experienced early adversity, but also on the adults who step forward to provide connection, belonging, and hope.
The families we work with often talk about how adoption has reshaped their lives, deepened their understanding of resilience, broadened their capacity for empathy, and enriched their sense of family in ways they could never have predicted.
Yet adoption is more than a moment of placement; it is a lifelong journey. Across the UK, thousands of children are waiting for permanent families, many of whom have been waiting more than 18 months since entering care. PACT brings decades of specialist expertise to supporting these children – particularly those who wait the longest, such as older children, sibling groups, or children of Black heritage or with disabilities.
At PACT we provide lifelong support that is flexible and responsive, and we are proud of the many positive experiences our families report. But we also acknowledge that support is not unlimited, and that no agency can meet every need in every circumstance. Being clear about this helps prospective adopters make informed, confident decisions.
This campaign is a celebration, but it is also a call to action. We invite anyone curious about adoption to join one of the drop-in events happening today at our offices in Reading, London, Brighton and Milton Keynes or our online information event this evening. Call us on 0300 456 4800 to speak to our friendly enquiries team to find out more or about future events. You can meet adoptive families, speak to our dedicated teams, and explore whether adoption could be part of your story. Big Adoption Day is about creating space for honest conversations and making sure every child has the chance to flourish within a loving, stable family.
As I reflect on my career in adoption, and the many children, adults and families I’ve had the privilege to meet over many years, one thing is clear: each story is different and none of them are simple. But what they all share is the possibility of meaningful, stable relationships that can help a child move forward after early experiences of trauma or loss.
