UK Apologises for Historic Forced Adoption, Unveils £4 Million Support Package for Survivors

UK Apologises for Historic Forced Adoption, Unveils £4 Million Support Package for Survivors

The United Kingdom government has formally apologised to thousands of people affected by historical forced adoption practices and announced a £4 million support package to help survivors access adoption records, reconnect with relatives and receive specialist mental health support.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered the landmark apology in the House of Commons on behalf of the British state, acknowledging that successive governments failed mothers, children and families through adoption policies that operated largely between 1949 and 1976.

The apology follows years of advocacy by survivors, campaign groups and human rights organisations, as well as recommendations by Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), which concluded that many women were coerced into surrendering their babies for adoption rather than making a free and informed choice.

Addressing campaigners who watched from the public gallery, Starmer acknowledged the lasting trauma caused by the historical practices.

“The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours.”

He added:

“And I say that on behalf of the whole country, I say it to every single person impacted: we are deeply and profoundly sorry.”

The Prime Minister admitted that many unmarried women were subjected to intense social stigma and pressure from hospitals, adoption agencies, religious institutions, social workers and even family members to give up their babies. In many cases, mothers were made to believe they were unfit to raise their children or were persuaded to sign adoption documents shortly after childbirth without meaningful support or genuine consent.

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The government estimates that about 185,000 mothers, adopted people and their families were directly affected by these practices. It also acknowledged the pain experienced by fathers, siblings, grandparents and extended family members who were separated from loved ones for decades.

Alongside the apology, the government announced a £4 million fund, which will be distributed over the next three years to provide practical and emotional support for those affected by forced adoption.

According to ministers, the funding will improve access to adoption records through CoramBAAF, expand intermediary services such as Family Connect to help reunite biological families where appropriate, provide specialist counselling and mental health support, strengthen peer-support networks, fund academic research into the long-term effects of forced adoption, and finance a national testimonials project to preserve survivors’ experiences.

The government said the support package was developed following extensive consultations with survivors, many of whom identified access to personal records, family reunification and emotional support as their greatest needs.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the historical practices as “an appalling injustice” that denied families precious moments and lifelong relationships.

“The pain carried by mothers, adopted children and their families who suffered this appalling injustice is unimaginable. They were cruelly denied irreplaceable moments, shared experiences and relationships which should have been theirs, and were made to feel ashamed.

“Today, on behalf of the British state, we say with one voice: this was wrong, and we are sorry. An apology cannot undo what happened, but it can be the start of real change, alongside providing the practical action, care and support that people need.”

The government also accepted responsibility for the failures of previous administrations, admitting that the state funded, enabled and legitimised systems that did not adequately protect vulnerable women and children.

Officials acknowledged that some adoption records were lost, altered or withheld, leaving many adopted people unable to trace their biological families or understand their personal histories.

“The state did not do enough to protect mothers, children and families and it failed to prevent harm from continuing. It bears responsibility for the systems it funded and legitimised, which enabled these practices to take place,” the government said.

Beyond the financial package, ministers announced several additional measures, including improving access to adoption records, expanding family reconnection services, working with NHS England to improve physical and mental healthcare for survivors, increasing awareness of historical forced adoption across public services, establishing a Lived Experience Reference Group to monitor implementation of the reforms, and commissioning a national testimonials project to preserve survivors’ stories.

The government said it would continuously assess the effectiveness of the programme and consider further research and support where necessary.

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Campaign groups welcomed the apology as a historic and long-overdue acknowledgment of the suffering endured by thousands of families. However, many organisations stressed that the announcement should be the beginning—not the end—of efforts to address the lasting impact of historical forced adoption.

Several survivor groups have renewed calls for financial compensation, easier access to adoption records and expanded therapeutic services, arguing that many victims continue to live with unresolved grief, trauma and identity issues decades after being separated from their families.

The apology applies specifically to historical adoption practices in England. The government noted that Scotland and Wales have already issued formal apologies, while Northern Ireland is establishing a statutory public inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses, where similar abuses are alleged to have occurred.

Although officials acknowledged that some coercive adoption practices extended beyond 1976, they stressed that today’s adoption system operates under stronger legal safeguards, judicial oversight and clear consent requirements designed to protect both children and birth parents.

The government encouraged anyone affected by historical forced adoption to seek assistance through organisations such as Family Connect, CoramBAAF, NHS services and specialist counselling providers.

For many survivors, the apology represents a significant step towards national recognition of a painful chapter in British history, offering hope that greater support and accountability will follow.

UK Apologises for Historic Forced Adoption, Unveils £4 Million Support Package for Survivors