Adoption England and UEA Culture Change Webinar
Adoption England, in collaboration with the University of East Anglia, is delivering a series of Culture Change webinars focused on supporting safe and meaningful connections. Led by UEA researchers and guest speakers with lived experience, the sessions are aimed at professionals across the sector.
Sign up to our upcoming webinars using the links below.
The importance of maintaining relationships - a refresh and update of the research
This session will support new champions as well as provide a refresher for existing champions. It will present an overview the key and latest research, as well as highlight resources available for planning and supporting keeping in touch after adoption.
12:30 - 1:30 PM
29 September, 2026
Thinking about how to involve the wider extended family
This session will include research showing the value of connecting with the extended family after adoption, and the different ways this can be achieved. It will also include contributions from people with lived experience and professional insight into planning and supporting maintaining relationships with extended family members after adoption. Guest speakers will include Dr Emily Phibbs, expert court witness, who will share briefly what information on the extended family can be helpful in court, and how to present this.
12:30 - 1:30 PM
13 October, 2026
Working with adoptive parents when keeping in touch after adoption
This session will include research and discussion of the needs and concerns of adoptive parents when planning and supporting birth family relationships after adoption. Guest speakers will include Emma and Becky from Adoption UK and Dr Teresa Cox from Buckingham New University.
12 - 1 PM
4 November, 2026
The legal perspective on maintaining relationships after adoption
This session will be looking to present the perspective of legal professionals and will discuss: what do courts want from SWs to support thoughtful decision making around staying in touch? What evidence should SWs be collecting and how should this be presented? What has been the mismatch in SW/court thinking and how can we ensure we are all on the same page? Guest contributors will include Judge Stephen Wildblood and barrister Katherine Duncan.
12:30 - 1:30 PM
13 January, 2027
Building Relationships
This will include research and practice around support for collaborative relationships when adoptive and birth families keep in touch after adoption, including mediation to promote understanding. Guest speakers will include Sarah Beskine who has been a family mediator since 1999; she will share advice for professionals who are directly supporting relationships, or considering the input of professional mediation.
12:30 - 1:30 PM
24 February, 2027
Cultural Heritage and Identity (TBC)
More details to follow soon
12:30 - 1:30 PM
10 March, 2027