Bishop Mark and his wife Lindsay have recorded themselves reading a children's book in support of "Your Christmas", the Christmas campaign from voluntary adoption agency and children's charity, Adoption Matters.
Adoption Matters, like everyone in the UK right now, is dealing with the ongoing impact of Covid-19. The health and safety of its staff, families, and colleagues is paramount so it has based this year’s Christmas campaign around spending Christmas at home, together.
Bishop Mark and Lindsay have recorded a reading of the children’s favourite, The Gruffalo’s Child, by Julia Donaldson as part of the Christmas Story videos shared on the charity website.
Bishop Mark says: “Lindsay and I are delighted to support Adoption Matters and all those they are privileged to help. We hope the children (and the adults) have as much fun watching and listening to this fantastic story as Lindsay and I did recording it! We hope and pray that all of the families connected with Adoption Matters have a joyful, peaceful Christmas”.
Adoption Matters Fundraising & Relationship Manager, Sarah Johnson commented: “We know this year is going to be very different for everyone including our families. We wanted to do something to help them celebrate their own Christmas at home – together. We want to encourage our families to share our resources and have some fun at the same time.
"At our Centre for Adoption Support we work with adoptive families from the very early beginnings of preparing to parent and continue to offer support for the rest of the family’s life together.
"We were so delighted that Bishop Mark and his wife Lindsay, are supporting our campaign with their wonderful story video."
As well as the top hints and tips to support adoptive families perhaps experiencing their first Christmas together, their website features lots of activities to keep children entertained with some great resources to share with families, including fantastically creative Christmas crafts, funny and entertaining stories and fabulously delicious Christmas recipe ideas very kindly shared by the fantastic Ainsley Harriott and the BBC Good Food website.
You can also join Adoption Matters for their spectacularly seasonal Christmas Quiz on Friday 11th December from the comfort of your very own sofa, hosted on Zoom, free of charge.
Some quick facts about Adoption Matters
- The charity placed 112 children for adoption with families in 2019-20. During the same period 444 families accessed therapeutic support through the Centre for Adoption Support
- 472 people attended training programmes.
- Since Covid-19 hit, the charity has seen a huge increase in the need for support to children and families and has continued to offer their services throughout the pandemic 100% fully staffed. The service recently increased their staff base at the Centre for Adoption Support recruiting an additional Occupational Therapist to meet high demand for support.
- The charity’s therapy service, part of the Centre, reports that since the end of May, on top of the ongoing work they already have with families, the service has provided additional therapeutic online support to 75 families and provided 2 mindfulness groups which run for 6 weeks for adopters.
For more information about the Christmas campaign, whose resources are available to everyone and to register for the free online Christmas Quiz, visit: www.adoptionmatters.org/christmas-2020
To find out more about adopting or fundraising with Adoption Matters, visit: www.adoptionmatters.org or call them on 0300 123 1066.
Where is God calling you?
Whoever and wherever we are, we each have a unique calling to serve God in our everyday lives. Perhaps you feel called to support children and families affected by adoption? Called to Serve is an invitation to explore God’s call on your life. Support, guidance, and prayer are all part of the process and will be readily available to you, and asking questions, no matter how small, is encouraged. Register today.