Support Not Separation

PAC-UK Consultation – Help Shape New Adoption Peer Support Groups

A birth mum says: As a birth parent who has used the counselling and peer group services PAC-UK offers since 2003 I can honestly say that I cannot guarantee I would still be alive without them. The care, specialist knowledge and compassion they show both through peers who have been touched by adoption (either as parents or children) or social workers who have decided to stop removing children and change their focus to try helping to heal families that have been broken is unparalleled in the country

PAC-UK Consultation: Help Shape New Adoption Peer Support Groups survey here

DEADLINE SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER

From PAC-UK: “PAC-UK are developing free peer support groups for adult adoptees, birth parents and birth relatives, funded by the Department for Education (DfE)and Adoption England. We want to shape the groups with people who have lived experience of adoption and understand what support would be most useful.

Before designing this survey, we consulted internally with staff with lived experience of adoption, as well as PAC-UK reference groups, to help shape the questions and ensure that the survey reflects a range of experiences and perspectives.

  • We would like to understand what support would be most useful, how you would like groups to work and what would make them accessible, safe and welcoming.
  • The groups would be developed as separate groups for different cohorts, including adult adoptees, birth parents and birth relatives, so that people can connect with others with similar experiences.
  • Possible topics might include searching, contact and reunion, post-reunion experiences, loss and grief, identity, relationships, accessing information and records, and practical advice. These are suggestions only – we want to hear what matters to you.
  • The groups would be free to access.
  • Taking part is voluntary. Some questions may touch on sensitive or difficult experiences, so please take care of yourself while completing the survey – details for our PAC-UK and FamilyConnect advice lines are included at the end of this introductory message.

Your responses will help us evidence the need for support and shape the development of the group programme. Following this consultation, we will use the findings to finalise the offer and aim to advertise the group programme in November 2026.

We will report findings to the Department for Education and Adoption England in summary form and will not identify individuals in any published findings.”

Thank you for helping us co-produce this support.

PAC-UK Advice Line: 0300 1800 090 | advice@pac-uk.org

FamilyConnect Advice Line: 0300 1800 205 | familyconnect@pac-uk.org

PLEASE NOTE, THIS SURVEY WILL CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2026.

See here for earlier research by PAC-UK: Maintaining Relationships with Birth Families: what are adopted adults’ views