THERE continues to be a shortage of adoptive parents, and in advance of National Adoption Week (October 14 to 20), Adoption Yorkshire, the adoption service of the Diocese of Leeds, is seeking adoptive parents in the York area.

Adoption Week aims to find loving families for children waiting to be adopted, with this year's slogan being: "Do something amazing - transform a child's life."

We are calling on people to think about whether they could offer a child a loving and permanent home. Adoption can be incredibly challenging, but it is also one of the most rewarding things you can do. The love and security that having a permanent family makes to a child's life can never be underestimated.

Many people believe they might be unsuitable to be adoptive parents but all kinds of people make good adoptive parents. For example, some believe they are too old at 50 when, in fact, they would be considered for a child eight years of age.

Adoption Yorkshire is also seeking parents for family groups of two to three children and parents for babies who have Down's Syndrome too.

For an informal discussion and an adoption information pack, telephone 0808 144 2650 or visit www.adoption-yorkshire.org.uk

Vera Ogden,

Adoption Team Leader,

Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds),

North Grange Road,

Headingley,

Leeds.

Updated: 10:32 Tuesday, September 24, 2002