Samuel* and his wife Naomi* live in Hampshire where Samuel works as a church leader. They adopted two girls through PACT in 2014. When the children’s birth family had another child a few years later, the couple were asked if they would consider adopting her into their family. They agreed and brought home their third daughter in 2016.
Each year, PACT runs family fun days for all its adoptive families. These events are provided as a chance for adoptive families to get together and have a fun day out with other adopters and adopted children, with birth children also welcome. Children enjoy meeting new friends and parents can connect with one another, with families often building life-long support networks based on their shared experiences. The events also provide an opportunity for families to catch up with PACT social workers in a relaxed setting.
Naomi and Samuel began coming to family fun days in 2014 after they adopted their eldest two daughters and have been to every fun day since. Locations have included Buckleberry Farm Park, Millets Farm Centre and most recently, 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park in Berkshire.
The couple said they love coming and so do their children. “It’s great to meet up with other adopters and the girls have always felt at home knowing that all the other children (but for a few birth children) are from the same type of background.”
When Samuel and Naomi became parents, they did not know many other adoptive families in their community. By the time they adopted their third child, the couple had connected with many other adopters from their local area. Some of their friends who also adopted through PACT were at the most recent fun day and the children enjoyed playing together and taking part in the activities on offer, particularly the badge-making.
As a church leader, Samuel is involved with Home For Good and at the event he shared some information about the group he organises for adoptive and foster families in his area. Thanks to the family fun day, he was able to meet and connect with other families who were interested in joining this support group.
Samuel and Naomi said they always look forward to these events provided by PACT. “We have them circled on our diary and make every effort to be there, usually right when it opens!” They encourage every PACT family they know to come along too, and they have no doubt they will be at the next one.
*Names changed for confidentiality
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