Bournemouth Council’s award winning adoption service is to take centre stage in a new prime time TV series starting this week.
The four part documentary called, ‘Wanted: A Family of My Own’, is being fronted by radio and TV presenter, Nicky Campbell, who is himself an adoptee. It will be broadcast on four consecutive Thursdays on ITV at 9pm starting April 24th.
The series will record the journeys of those wishing to become adopters and will also feature stories of the children who cannot live with their birth families and consequently have a plan for adoption. In the first episode we see Dan & Ania who approached Bournemouth about adopting a child. The programme follows their journey including through their assessment by social worker Fran, through to her efforts in finding the right child for them to adopt. Later in the series, the programme follows Bournemouth adoption social worker Jess and her efforts to find a family for a child with multiple health needs.
The documentary produced by Wall to Wall Productions, who made ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, has been filmed over the last few months in Bournemouth with camera crews following the Adoption team as they go about their work.
Kim Drake, Service Director for Children’s Social Care, said: “It has been an interesting time for our award winning adoption service as they have risen to the challenge of carrying on with their service whilst playing host to camera teams visiting and recording their everyday work. We have been delighted at the sensitivity of the production company and also impressed with their knowledge and understanding of the adoption process. This has been key to the successful making of this programme and the result is a very sensitive and at times emotional portrayal of the work of our Children’s Social Care service and how it changes lives.”
Councillor Nicola Greene, Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said: “The series will showcase the dedication and determination of our social work staff in finding positive outcomes for the many children who need adoptive homes. We hope it will raise awareness of what is involved in adopting a child and also dispel the myths around adoption. We are delighted at the finished programme.”
The adoption team are ready and willing to talk to anyone who wishes to adopt or have more information about adoption. To learn more contact the team on 01202 456743 or visit www.bournemouth.gov.uk/adoption
