Welcome to PATCH: Passionate Adopters Targeting Change with Hope

At PATCH we are committed to challenging systemic failures in adoption and advocating for meaningful reform. Our mission is to empower adoptive families, enhance understanding, and drive change to push for the delivery of the support that every child and family deserves to thrive. PATCH was established to illuminate the challenges faced by many adopters in crisis, exposing the inadequacies and harmful nature of current systems.

PATCH’s response to the Government’s Adoption and Support Consultation outlines systemic failings in adoption practice across the UK. Grounded in trauma science and lived experience, it challenges a system that continues to overlook the depth and lifelong impact of early harm.

Latest Posts…

Posts by Patch's Founder Uncategorised

Letter from the Children’s MInister in response to Child In Focus letter.

Minister for Children and Families Department for Education 1 October 2026 Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your correspondence, shared by a constituent who forwarded the Child in Focus Network letter regarding the training required for professionals working with children living [...]

06
Oct

Posts About Lived Experience

Heart Sore

Tonight I Feel Tired Tonight I feel broken by it all. Not broken in a dramatic sense. Just worn down. Worn so thin by years of explaining, advocating, evidencing, justifying and pushing that I don’t know how much energy I [...]

06
Oct

Posts by Patch's Founder

What if we dont know enough?

An Open Letter to Social Work Professionals What If We Don’t Know Enough? Dear Social Work Professionals, I have been thinking a lot about what we are actually taught as social workers, and what we are then expected to understand [...]

05
Oct

Posts by Patch's Founder Uncategorised

Hurt Hurts

You need support but your friends don’t see the reality you’re experiencing, their support dwindles as they just don’t get it. You need help from professionals yet your reality doesn’t translate to theirs, they see part of the story but [...]

25
Sep

Posts About Lived Experience

The thing is my child is hurt,

The thing is, my child is hurt. He is adopted, therefore he was abused, and the abuse was all those big words – significant. There was a child protection medical, and report after report was written, so many people’s voices, [...]

11
Sep

Posts About Lived Experience

The People Who Notice I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to notice people. Not in grand gestures. Not through dramatic acts of kindness. Just in the small, everyday ways that quietly say: “I see you.” Some [...]

27
Aug

Who We Are

Driven by personal journeys and united in our mission, we strive to ensure that every adopter’s voice is heard, and every child’s trauma is addressed with expertise and empathy. Our commitment lies in pushing for meaningful change, challenging systemic failings, and advocating for the entire well-being of children and families within the adoption community.

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Voices

These narratives are not just stories; they are heartfelt pleas for understanding, empathy, and systemic change. From personal accounts to professional insights, each voice contributes to a richer, more nuanced dialogue on adoption, fostering, and the urgent need for a more empathetic and informed approach. Listen, reflect, and join us in our mission to transform the landscape of adoption and social care.

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Resources & Links

Here, you’ll find a comprehensive collection of tools, articles, guides, and invaluable insights aimed at supporting adopters, professionals, and anyone touched by the adoption process. Whether you’re seeking knowledge, understanding, or practical advice, our resources are meticulously selected to provide clarity, comfort, and direction.

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A poem written by Charlie Ras Writes

We chose a different kind of family life
knowing there could be wounds that ran deep
still, we celebrated the day they came home
and began our life as family.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy
experience taught me so
but surely there’d be help in place
structure, guidance, a secure scaffold?
But when the problems came
it was difficult to comprehend
I reached out for a helping hand
but got stung instead.
I found torture in the place
I hoped to find support
I thought they’d have a safety net
solutions ready to catch me when I fall.
And so, I left them, weapons in hands
broken heart in mine
I found other survivors of the mess
we formed our own alliance.
In numbers we found collective strength
to target failures that made us allies
our passion became a shield to push forward
not to hide behind.
We’re all very different people
our common ground, we’d rather not be
but our differences make us stronger
as we fight for change for adopters and adoptees.
In the face of blame and bias
a meeting of minds became a precious gem
patch by patch we’ll build with relentless hope
to bring these failings to their overdue end.