Nugent Adoption: Uniting hearts and homes in the journey of adoption

In a world where every child deserves a loving home, there is a powerful truth we must confront; not all children have an equal chance of finding their forever families. Over half of children (59%) waiting for permanent homes belong to certain groups where it takes an average of eight months longer to be adopted. This includes children aged five or over, those with additional and/or complex needs, brother and sister groups, and those from black and mixed heritage backgrounds.

To address the prolonged waiting periods these children endure, ‘You Can Adopt’, Nugent and other adoption agencies across England unite in a collective campaign. Our Mission? To shine a light on the remarkable circle of support available to adopters and, in doing so, connect these resilient parents with the children who often wait the longest for their dreams to come true.

Over the years, the adoption process has undergone a remarkable transformation. It has become simpler, quicker, and more supported than ever before. Just ask Jenny*, a proud adopter who chose Nugent Adoption to fulfil her dreams of building a family. Sharing her heartfelt adoption journey, Jenny* couldn’t help but emphasise the incredible support she received from the Nugent team:

“I adopted my amazing son seven years ago as a single adopter. It was the best thing I have ever done and consider it to be my biggest achievement in life. It was an intense process but completely worth it.

“I then met my now husband a few years later. We decided we would like to adopt another child together to provide a sibling for our son, who has a great understanding of adoption… and is proud to say he is adopted. We also wanted to experience the joy of adding a new little member to our family.

“The experience was very different for me this time; I was adding to our family rather than creating a family. There were other things to consider, and I had different feelings. Our social worker, Paula, has been amazing and I don’t think we would have stuck through the process without her. She guided us through dealing with these different considerations and feelings. We are expecting our little girl to come home soon I’m sure there will be lots of new challenges, but we are excited for our new adventure together. Knowing we have that ongoing support from Nugent is invaluable.”

With close to 2,000 children waiting to be adopted in England, the chances are if you can provide a safe, stable, loving home, you can adopt.

If you have any questions and would like to find out more about adoption, you can contact our friendly team on 01744 613 041, email adoption@wearenugent.org or visit nugentadoption.org.

*Name has been changed.

Jo Henney Interim Chief Executive Nugent

Reflecting on the success of the Good Shepherd Masses

A heartfelt thank you to the amazing 1,900 pupils who attended the recent Good Shepherd Masses held at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and St. Mary’s Church in Leyland. Both events were an overwhelming success and filled our hearts with gratitude and appreciation.

Our Good Shepherd appeal is one of the oldest charity appeals in the UK. With its origins with our founder Fr James Nugent and built around children helping children, the appeal has helped support families struggling to support themselves in difficult times for over 121 years.

This year, the Good Shepherd Appeal revolved around the theme of ‘The Good Samaritan: love thy neighbour.’ We aimed to spread the message of the importance of loving one another and showing care and compassion through acts of kindness. Primary and secondary schools from across the archdiocese wholeheartedly embraced this theme, and their creativity in raising funds for Nugent was truly remarkable. They came up with incredible ideas that their friends and staff could take part in.

Year after year, Nugent’s Good Shepherd Masses offer a remarkable platform to express deep appreciation and celebrate the outstanding efforts of the incredible students who tirelessly raise funds for Nugent. Their unwavering support and dedication to Nugent’s Good Shepherd Appeal is truly remarkable and inspiring. The funds raised through the schools’ generosity and hard work will make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families facing challenging times. We are privileged to have such compassionate and dedicated students in our community.

Let us continue to nurture a spirit of kindness, love, and compassion in everything we do. Together, we can create a brighter future for those Nugent care for, educate and protect across our communities.