This section offers information on post-adoption services. Legislation introduced in 2007 resulted in the subsequent closure of all Catholic adoption agencies in England and Wales. The organisations listed here are those that inherited this work and, in some cases, hold the historical records of the former organisation.
In 2016, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, then-President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, issued an apology for historical practices of forced adoption, acknowledging “the grief and pain caused by the giving up of a child through adoption.”
Cardinal Nichols stated that, “Sadly for unmarried mothers, adoption was considered to be in the best interests of the mother and child because of the associated stigma and the lack of support for lone parents. The practices of all adoption agencies, whether religious, charitable or state, reflected these attitudes and were sometimes lacking in care and sensitivity. We apologise for the hurt caused by agencies acting in the name of the Catholic Church.”
This apology still stands.
The Church and Catholic groups that are providing post-adoption support continue to reflect on how we respond in sensitive and meaningful ways to those mothers and children affected. This includes a desire to listen and to understand more deeply the impact which these experiences have had on them.
Please note: Legislation introduced in 2007 resulted in the subsequent closure of all Catholic adoption agencies in England and Wales. The organisations listed here are those that inherited this work and, in some cases, hold the historical records of the former organisation. A number of these organisations are independent charities. Where a ‘current’ organisation doesn’t exist for historic adoption practices, the records are likely to have been transferred to a local council/authority. The organisation name is linked to its website if one is active.
| Area of Operation | Organisation | Former Organisation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arundel and Brighton | Diagrama Foundation | Catholic Children’s Society Arundel and Brighton, Portsmouth and Southwark | Voluntary Adoption Agency |
| Birmingham | Father Hudson’s Caritas | Father Hudson’s Society | Adoption Support Agency |
| Brentwood | |||
| Cardiff-Menevia | St David’s Children Society (St David’s Adoption Service) | Catholic Children and Family Care Society (Wales); Catholic Children’s Society (Wales) | Voluntary Adoption Agency |
| Clifton | Clifton Children’s Society | Clifton Rescue Society | Voluntary Adoption Agency |
| East Anglia | |||
| Hallam | |||
| Hexham and Newcastle | St Cuthbert’s Care | Hexham and Newcastle Diocesan Rescue Society; Catholic Care North East | Adoption Support Agency |
| Lancaster | Caritas Care | Catholic Caring Services | Voluntary Adoption Agency |
| Leeds | Catholic Care (Caritas Leeds) | Leeds Diocesan Rescue Society | Post adoption work transferred to Nugent Care (see note) |
| Liverpool | Nugent Care | Liverpool Catholic Children’s Protection Society | Nugent Adoption officially closed in 2025 (see note) |
| Middlesbrough | |||
| Northampton | St Francis Children’s Society | Northampton Diocesan Catholic Child Protection & Welfare Society | Ceased all operations. Transferred files to Milton Keynes Council (2022) |
| Nottingham | Adoption Focus | Catholic Children’s Society (Nottingham); Adopt Together – Faith in Families | Voluntary Adoption Agency |
| Portsmouth | Diagrama Foundation | Catholic Children’s Society Arundel and Brighton, Portsmouth and Southwark; Portsmouth Diocesan Catholic Child Welfare | Voluntary Adoption Agency |
| Plymouth | Families for Children Trust | Plymouth Diocesan Catholic Children’s Society | Ceased all operations. Transferred files to Devon County Council (2022) |
| Salford | Caritas Salford | Salford Catholic Protection and Rescue Society | Post adoption work transferred to Salford City Council (2022) |
| Shrewsbury | Caritas Shrewsbury | Catholic Children’s Society (Shrewsbury) | Post adoption work transferred to Nugent Care (see note) |
| Southwark | Diagrama Foundation | Cabrini Children’s Society; Southwark Catholic Rescue Society; Southwark Catholic Children’s Society; Catholic Children’s Society Arundel and Brighton, Portsmouth and Southwark | Voluntary Adoption Agency |
| Westminster | Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster) | Crusade of Rescue | Adoption Support Agency |
| Wrexham |
Note: Nugent Adoption officially closed in November 2025. Files transferred to St Helens Borough Council. Post adoption support now being provided by Adoption Matters.
A number of Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) member organisations continue to provide post-adoption support for adopted adults, adoptive parents and birth families who are seeking help and advice in relation to adoption as well as those who were in previously in care. Examples include Catholic Children’s Society Westminster and Father Hudson’s Caritas.
More information on support for children and families provided by Catholic organisations can be found on CSAN’s website.
