Changes to adoption in Cumbria

The new unitary authorities have decided for a number of services to still be provided together across both new council areas, including fostering and adoption.

Author: Joseph GartlyPublished 3rd Apr 2023
Last updated 27th Nov 2023

From now the local authorities in Cumbria will look different, with two new unitary councils replacing the current county council and six district councils.

The new authorities have decided it makes sense for a number of services to still be provided together across both new council areas, including fostering and adoption.

Cumbria County Council’s fostering and adoption services will now become Cumbria Fostering & Cumbria Adoption, working on behalf of the two new authorities, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness, to find safe and loving homes for some of the county’s most vulnerable children.

They hope to still provide the same level of service for children, adopters, adopted adults, foster carers and birth families with little or no disruption.

It also marks the end of the adoption service’s partnership with Durham County Council and Sunderland City Council, as part of the Adopt Coast to Coast Regional Adoption Agency. Prospective adopters in Cumbria are now being encouraged to contact Cumbria Adoption to start their adoption journey.