Across the south, five young boys today are living in different caring and compassionate foster care homes, going to school, playing, laughing, and growing. But behind their everyday routines, they are still waiting for a family life to call their own, forever.

As National Adoption Week (21–27 October 2025) gets underway, Adopt South, the Regional Adoption Agency for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, is urgently reaching out to towns, villages and communities to find ‘everyday’ families for three individual boys and one sibling pair.

Mason, Albie, Finley-Jack as well as Logan and George* are happy little boys who do everything any other child would do. They enjoy playing with toys, activities in school, being curious or just snuggling up for story time. At the same time, they are all unique in their own way, full of personality, and thriving, thanks to the time, encouragement and invaluable support of their foster families. But what they don’t yet have is the certainty of a forever home. Adopt South has produced a short film which gives a little insight into who the boys are.

Each of the boys has some additional needs, such as developmental delays, neurodiversity, or requiring extra support with learning. But what they all have in common is smiles, their capacity to love, to grow, and to bring joy to the lives of those around them.

Rachel Reynolds, Head of Adopt South, says: “These five adorable boys, who are between the ages of three and five years old, are at a stage where we know so much about them. Their little personalities are developing; they can express themselves, tell you how they feel or what they are interested in.

“And because they go to nursery or school and are involved with other activities, there is space in the day for a parent to reflect, plan, and think about what’s next. There are cherished moments that matter, like coming home from school, sharing stories, doing something for the first time together.

“We know that some children may carry a diagnosis or assessment, but that doesn’t define these boys. That’s why we are asking residents in our communities to look beyond those labels and see the child, who simply needs someone to believe in them, so they can have the best life and be accepted for their story and who they are. Our aim of this campaign is to reduce the time these boys are in foster care and give them their own forever families. I’m hoping that if just a few people come forward for an initial chat with us, it could mean that, despite the enormous efforts foster carers make for our children, each boy can be part of a family that can love him for who he is.”

Adopt South welcomes a conversation with anyone who is interested to find out more about the boys, or just curious about adoption, including singles, couples or families, people from LGBTQ+ backgrounds, those of faith, renters and homeowners. Adopted children need a parent who finds joy in helping others, is thoughtful, compassionate, and has the special qualities needed to support them to truly thrive.

The Regional Adoption Agency offers full support throughout the adoption journey, from the very beginning when people are just starting to explore adoption through to becoming a parent to an adopted child or siblings. While the agency has one of the fastest approval times to adopt at just under six months, the team will work to the pace of each prospective adopter, recognising that some may need more time than others.

As well as speaking to the team, Adopt South host drop in events and Online Adoption Information Events. These one-hour live events, with cameras off, offer a chance to learn more about:

• The children who need families
• The adoption process
• Hear from an Adoptive Parent – Live
• The support available to you

There’s no obligation to commit to anything – just an opportunity to discover whether adoption could be part of your story, and whether perhaps you could give a much needed forever home to one of the boys.

You can call Adopt South’s dedicated team on 0300 3000 011, use the online form to request a callback, or visit the website to find out more about Mason, Albie, Finley-Jack as well as Logan and George.

All Adopt South families have access to ongoing free advice, workshops and social events for their children up to the age of 21 years (25 years with an EHCP). Adopters will also benefit from a supportive community of adopter families across the region including those going through the adoption process and opportunities to meet other families with adopted
children.