It's only a number...
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Gossip by any other name
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Photographic evidence
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Mum's the word
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Mischief Making
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Zzzzzzzzz...
Join me and indulge yourself in the best National Something Day ever!
Madonna has done a better job of promoting adoption than I could ever hope to do today! Maybe it has not turned out exactly as she intended but, if you gloss over all the whys and wherefores, she has managed to highlight the plight of the Malawian children living in orphanages. And she has brought the adoption debate back to the front pages.
With almost impeccable timing, in the wake of all the controversy, comes National Adoption Week (nationaladoptionweek.org.uk) and I emphasise the word National. We don't want to start another Madonna debate today!
With over 4000 children on the books of UK adoption agencies, this week is designed to encourage people from all walks of life to find out about adopting a child and, just for the record, that includes pop stars!
I have checked out the events taking place around the country and there is not one listed in Berkshire. I do think that we suffer a little in our locale because London is so accessible. We sometimes seems to get lumped in with our capital city. I don't think it's right but it's not the first time I have been researching events linked to a particular campaign only to find that we've been left out!
There is however a BBC event that looks interesting, An evening with Nicky Campbell, which is due to take place on Friday 24th November 2006.
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of National Adoption Week, and the event is billed as an entertaining evening of conversation, discussion and lively debate!
Nicky Campbell, BBC TV's presenter and broadcaster and one of BAAF's founder Patrons, has been invited to host proceedings. He will be introducing and chatting to a selection of personalities, including Kriss Akabusi (athlete, presenter and motivational speaker), Nick Danziger (BBC Photo-Journalist), Clare Gorham (artist and journalist - The Colour of Love) and Mark Steel (stand-up comedian and columnist for The Independent), who all have a personal link with adoption and fostering.
The site also offers a diverse range of personal accounts of adoption:
Diary of an adoption journey: Sylvia and Peter kept a diary from the time they thought about adopting through to their approval as adoptive parents.
Thoughts of a young adopted person: Larry is 17 and adopted. He is a spokesperson for British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) and several other UK adoption charities.
My dads are the coolest people ever!: Young Sam talks about his two dads who are adopting him.
On a related site, baaf.org.uk, the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, you can find a huge resource of information on the subject:
Legislation & practice
Statistics
Resources
Publications
Training & conferences
Be My Parent (newspaper and web site to raise awareness)
Advice & consultancy
Consultations
Find an agency
Campaigns
Donating
Fundraising
There is also a statement regarding Madonna's adoption of little David from David Holmes, the Chief Executive of BAAF... I leave that one with you.
