The Chester Bluecoat Charity is delighted to have given Adoption Matters £500 in order to for them to be able to fund a children and young peoples choir which unites their community of adopted families.
Adoption Matters, headquartered in Chester, has been finding loving families for children who need them and supporting adopter families since 1947.
Adoption is often a very personal journey. Many adopted children do not want to share their story with their peers as adoption is, unfortunately, still very misunderstood. However, sometimes for children and young people keeping their adoption and early life experiences private can cause them anxiety, a lack of self-worth and can make them feel very different to their peers, which can impact their mental health.
Adoption Matters runs many events in order to tackle this, for example they deliver adoption awareness training to schools and education professionals. The children and young people’s choir is another event the centre offers to their adopter families. The choir is a fun and safe space where adopted children and young people can not only learn to sing but also mix freely and openly with other adopted children, who quickly become friends. Whilst the children take part in the choir, adoptive parents can get together to share their feelings and support each other over a cuppa!
The choir had to sadly stop during the COVID pandemic and hasn’t been able to relaunch up until now, thanks to this grant which will fund a new singing coach.
Annie O’Neill, the Adoption Matters Fundraising and Relationship Manager comments “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this grant which will help fund our children’s choir, which we plan to re-ignite in 2024.”
“The funds will be invaluable to provide a community space for children to come together in a safe environment, learn to sing and record songs whilst also providing a chance for our adoptive parents to meet up and chat with other parents.”
To find out more about Adoption Matters, visit: www.adoptionmatters.org
