Access to records
Adoption Search Reunion provides information and guidance for anyone considering searching for, or making contact with, birth relatives or adopted relatives. The website is intended to be the first port of call for anyone thinking about searching for or making contact with birth and adopted relatives. A new search facility is currently in development and is expected to launch in late 2026. See the project dedicated page for further information.
Care leavers association provides information, guidance and peer support for care-experienced adults, including resources on accessing children's social care records.
FamilyConnect provides an advice line, information and intermediary services to help adopted adults, care-experienced adults, birth relatives and professionals access records, trace relatives and reconnect families.
Gov.UK- information about adoption records and how to access them (in England and Wales) includes how to obtain a copy of your original birth certificate from the General Register Office, or if you don’t know your birth details, how to make a ‘birth information before adoption’ (BIBA) application. Also information about how to add your details to Adoption Contact Register if you are an adopted adult or birth relative hoping to reconnect (or to register a wish for no contact).
Making Connections works with adults who were in Barnardo’s care as children or were placed for adoption by the charity. Its core purpose is to provide access to records for adults seeking information about their past, and where follow-up is required, help with tracing and intermediary work is offered.
PAC-UK provides a national advice line, counselling, therapeutic support and intermediary services for adopted people, birth relatives, adoptive families and others affected by adoption, special guardianship and other permanence arrangements.
In Scotland, Birthlink provides support for all adults affected by adoption, including counselling, contact and tracing.
Barnardos Scotland can help you find records of your adoption if it was arranged through Barnardos.
Scottish Adoption offers a range of support services for adults who were adopted as children.
St Andrew's Children Society is an adoption and fostering agency based in Scotland. They have an office in Edinburgh and another in Aberdeen. They offer counselling to all people affected by adoption through St Andrew’s Children’s Society as well as adoption support.
In Northern Ireland, Adoption Routes helps adopted adults seeking information about their birth parents and their family of origin.
Experiences of accessing records
Further support
Adult Adoptee Movement (AAM) is a UK-based, adoptee-led organization dedicated to empowering adopted people, changing the adoption narrative, and advocating for adoptee rights. They host safe, adoptee-only peer spaces, campaign for better lifelong support, and fight for justice.
Article 39 provides an advice line for children, families and professionals, alongside information, guidance and resources to help children and young people in care or other institutional setting to understand and uphold their rights.
Become provides an advice service, advocacy, rights information and practical support for children in care and care leavers.
Care Leavers' Association provides information, peer support, networking and events for care-experienced adults.
Care Leaver Covenant connects care leavers with opportunities relating to employment, education, housing, finance, health and wellbeing, and leisure.
Children's Commissioner for England promotes and protects the rights of children and offers the Help at Hand advice and representation service for children in care, children with a social worker, children living away from home, and care leavers under 25.
Coram Children's Legal Centre provides free legal information and advice on children's rights, education, family law, immigration and community care.
Coram Voice provides an advocacy helpline, independent advocacy, rights information and support with complaints for children in care, children with a social worker and care leavers.
Drive Forward Foundation provides employment support, mentoring, education and career development for care-experienced young adults.
Lawyers Who Care is a professional network for care-experienced people working in, or aspiring to, the legal profession.
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) provides a free advocacy helpline, independent advocacy, legal advocacy and rights information for children, young people, care leavers and adults in vulnerable situations.
Office of the Children's Commissioner for Wales promotes and protects the rights of children and young people in Wales through information, advice and resources.
The Rees Foundation provides coaching, mentoring, peer support, grants and wellbeing support for care-experienced adults.
Mental health and wellbeing
Mind provides mental health information, advice and support services for people of all ages.
YoungMinds provides mental health information, advice and resources for children, young people and their families.
Samaritans provides free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day for anyone who is struggling.