Adoption@Heart, the regional adoption agency for the Black Country, is appealing for more families to come forward to adopt a child into a safe, loving, and permanent home. Working in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council, Dudley Council, Sandwell Children’s Trust and Walsall Council, it is calling for all those who are considering adoption, or would like some more information, to take the next step and get in touch.

Every year in Wales about 500 young people fall out of the formal care system on reaching the age of 18. It means from that moment they are treated as adults, so no longer necessarily receive the support they had each day as children.

Many feel ill-prepared for adult life and find the prospect of supporting themselves overnight as "scary".

Two adopted brothers and their school friends have donated their Christmas presents to children in need in Wolverhampton – all in memory of their close friend who sadly passed away this year.

The boys aged seven and four, and both adopted via Adoption@Heart, the adoption agency for the Black Country, came up with the idea after hearing about how many children would normally go without presents over the festive period.

Scores of fantastic fostering families joined together for a fun-filled day at the annual Fostering Picnic in the Park event last week.

The outdoor event was organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Fostering for Wolverhampton team who laid on fun, games and a picnic for foster families in Wolverhampton at Bantock Park on Friday (5 August).

Adoption charity PACT (Parents And Children Together) is urgently appealing for people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities to consider adoption.

PACT, which offers outstanding Ofsted-rated adoption services to families across the south-east of England, is one of the leading independent adoption charities in the country. Last year the charity helped transform the lives of 82 children by finding them their forever families.

Carers and foster parents are being offered a free month's membership to the City of Wolverhampton Council's WV Active leisure centres this August. The offer is open to anyone who provides unpaid care to a family member or friend who has a mental health need, learning disability, physical and sensory disability or who needs extra help as they grow older.